61-8-344. Vehicles to stop at stop signs. (1) The department of transportation and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may designate through highways and erect stop signs at specified entrances to these highways or may designate an intersection as a stop intersection and erect stop signs at one or more entrances to that intersection.

(2) The stop sign and its placement must conform to the sign manual adopted by the department of transportation.

(3) An operator of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, in the event there is no crosswalk, the operator shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. If there is not a clearly marked stop line, the operator shall stop at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the operator has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection except when directed to proceed by a police officer, highway patrol officer, or traffic control signal.