We’re all guilty of NYC’s most common offense, jaywalking, which is punishable with a fine of up to $250 should a cop catch you in the act…though not anymore! The city now has a new outlook on crossing the street sans crosswalk as jaywalking in NYC is officially legal.
The scoop on NYC jaywalking
On September 26th, 2024, the New York City Council passed a bill that revokes cops’ ability to ticket jaywalkers, changing the dynamic of one of the most walkable cities in the U.S. And, recently adopted as a law, New Yorkers can now legally cross the street at any point, crosswalk or not, and regardless of what the traffic signal shows.
“We’ve supported legalizing jaywalking for years, and it’s past time for the city to take this outdated policy off the books. Criminalizing jaywalking makes no one safer,” Elizabeth Adams, Transportation Alternatives interim co-executive director, said in a statement back in September.
According to data from the city, the vast majority of those ticketed for jaywalking are people of color, and bringing this bill to the forefront was an attempt to combat the disparity.
After the New York City Council passed the bill it awaited the signature of Mayor Eric Adams to sign off on it, making it a law. However, the same day that the bill was passed, the mayor’s indictment was unsealed. He faces five federal charges of bribery conspiracy, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Adams eventually ran out of time to veto or sign the legislation, automatically bringing it into law.
To clarify, when not a crosswalk pedestrians crossing the street do not have the right of way and must yield to traffic. Adams administration spokesperson Liz Garcia also stated that pedestrians involved in jaywalking-related incidents may still be liable in civil actions.
So while jaywalking is officially legal, pedestrians are still urged to keep in mind that crossing the street anywhere other than at a crosswalk is a risky action. As part of the legislation, NYC DOT must carry out a public education campaign relating to traffic safety.