This study aims to show that the VOTs of English stops are phonetically influenced by non-local segments. Eight native English speakers (4 females and 4 males) produced nonce words of the forms C1V1C2 and C1V1C2VC with variation in the voicing of C1 and C2. Phonetic analysis found, first, that voiceless C1-VOT shortening occurs regressively when followed by another voiceless stop across a vowel, but C2-VOT is not affected by C1. Second, VOT modulation in English voiceless stops is non-local in the sense that the Cs triggering VOT shortening need not be root-adjacent. Third, the interval, which is the distance between the intervening V1 and C2, plays a role in triggering C1-VOT shortening. These results support Walter’s (2007) claim that the VOT modulation in English results from the articulatory difficulty associated with repeating laryngeal cues within a short time. They will be discussed in light of phonetic proximity, particularly limits on the distance at which corresponding Cs may occur. Directionality will also be discussed regarding the target of VOT modulation in light of the avoidance of recurrent aspiration.