Jaywalking

In New York City, jaywalking has been decriminalized as of February 2024, after the City Council passed a law repealing the previous penalties for crossing the street outside crosswalks or against red lights. This change means that pedestrians can cross streets at any point without risk of fines. The law became a reality when Mayor Eric Adams let the bill pass without signing it.

The law was introduced in part to counter the racial disparities in enforcement of the jaywalking rules; more than 92% of tickets for jaywalking in New York in 2023 were issued to blacks and Latinos. The city council wanted to remedy this disparity and allow police resources to be used more effectively in other areas of security.

Although jaywalking is now legal, this does not mean that pedestrians are entitled to the right of way outside of crosswalks. If a pedestrian is crossing outside of a crosswalk and is hit, they may still be liable for any damages. This has created debate about potential risks, as New York already has high numbers of traffic-related accidents.

It is also expected that the city will launch awareness campaigns and possibly improve infrastructure to minimize the risk of accidents and promote safety across all road users.

Today, jaywalking is either legal or unofficially tolerated in several places around the world. For example, jaywalking is legal in many Asian countries such as Vietnam and India, where busy traffic conditions and fewer pedestrian crossings make it convenient for people to cross outside of regulated crossings. In these areas, violations are rarely enforced, although there are exceptions in major cities such as Singapore, where there are strict rules for pedestrian crossings. In China, jaywalking is also more strictly enforced in large cities, often with technological tools like facial recognition to discourage it.

In the United States, as I said, New York City has recently chosen to decriminalize jaywalking, bringing it in line with practice in other American cities, where it is rarely punished. Jaywalking is increasingly seen as a matter of practical use of city streets rather than a criminal offense, especially in cities where infrastructure and traffic make it challenging to use traditional crosswalks. In some parts of the world, such as in countries in Africa and South America, laws on jaywalking vary widely and can include both fines and prison terms in certain countries.