Illegal stop signs abound in the US. Stop signs should only be placed if they meet a Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrant. One or more of t

Illegal stop signs abound in the US. Stop signs should only be placed if they meet a Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrant. One or more of the following conditions must exist: (1) intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of the regular right-of-way rule is hazardous; (2) street entering a through highway or street; (3) unsignalized intersection in a signalized area; or (4) other intersections where a combination of high speed (directly related to sight distance), restricted view and serious accident record indicates a need for control by the stop sign. Here in Massachusetts, it used to be the case that stop signs had to be individually approved by the state. At some point, the towns were allowed to make the determination—and they frequently put them up as illegal traffic calming devices because that is what's the locals want (and most our towns have direct democracy).