To review, here are some of the basic rules of the four-way stop:

• The first car to arrive at the stop goes first.
• If two cars arrive simultaneously, the car on the right goes first, or if cars arrive facing each other, the car going straight has the right of way over a turning car.
• If more than two cars arrive at the same time, let the crazy aggressive drivers go first — forget pride and save on your body shop repair bill.

My thinking then goes to this idea: If corresponding NFL football rules along with cash penalties could be applied to the violators of four-way stops, order could be restored to our streets! In addition, the local police departments could obtain added funding for their budgets!

The following is a comparison of NFL penalties with suggested traffic violation fines:

NFL: False start — 5-yard penalty.

Four-way stop violation: The car on the left jumped the line and went first. $50 fine.

NFL: Encroachment – 5 yards.

Four-way stop violation: Three ladies on return from Relief Society luncheon are not paying attention and fail to stop exactly at the stop line and encroach two yards into the intersection. $50 fine and loss of keys to the Relief Society closet.

NFL: Targeting – Player disqualified.

Four-way stop violation: Driver fails to stop as a pedestrian enters the crosswalk. $300 fine and $5,000 Payment for doctor’s bill to cast broken leg.

NFL: Illegal use of hands – 15 yards.

Four-way stop violation: Two drivers arrive simultaneously. One driver is texting and doesn’t stop. The second driver uses left hand to make gesture to first driver. Offsetting penalties — no fines.

NFL: Illegal formation behind the line — 5 yards.

Four-way stop violation: Two drivers approach intersection at same time. One intentionally stops 10 feet early just to show that he stopped first. $50 fine and enrollment in UVU self-help Psych class.

NFL: Pass interference. 10 yards from the previous spot and a first down.

Four-way stop violation: Using another car in the intersection to block the way of an oncoming car while you pass prematurely through the intersection. No penalty! A policeman once told me this was legal – it keeps traffic moving.

NFL: Face mask – 15 Yards and first down for the offense.

Four-way stop violation: A driver wearing a Covid mask when no one else is in the car. Penalty — anti-social disorder class at BYU.

NFL: Intentional grounding — 10 yard loss from the spot of the foul.

Four-way stop violation: On the first day after earning her driver’s license, a teenager is taking her mom on a ride to show off her new skill, but hasn’t quite got the hang of four-way stops. She totally doesn’t stop, hoping the other three stop signs would take care of oncoming traffic. Penalty – loss of car keys and mom grounding her for two weeks.

NFL: Defensive audible interference with quarterback signals — 15-yard penalty.

Four-way stop violation: Non-enforceable if car windows are rolled up. Not sure how this one really applies to four-way stops, but just keep your mouth shut when you’ve got nothing good to say!

Well, we made it through the four-way! Give yourself seven points! Add two more points for safely picking up the kids on the way home.

Wait a minute! I am taking a new route home. What is that funny-looking intersection ahead? All the cars are driving around in a circle!

Steve Horne is a Utah County businessman.