Jaywalking — that time-honored practice of crossing the street outside of the crosswalk or against the traffic light — is now legal in New York City. Legislation passed by the city council last month officially became law last weekend. The new law permits pedestrians to cross a roadway at any point, including outside of crosswalks. It also allows for crossing against traffic signals and specifically states that doing so is no longer a violation of the city’s administrative code. However, the new law warns that pedestrians crossing outside of a crosswalk or against a traffic light do not have the right-of-way and should yield to other traffic that does have the right-of-way. Those opposed to the law point out that crossing outside of a crosswalk or against a traffic light is not only risky behavior, but people may still continue to be liable in civil actions for accidents caused by jaywalking. Proponents of the law say jaywalking laws were pushed by the auto industry in the 1930s as a way to keep people off streets and make more room for vehicles. Jaywalking laws have been on the books in New York City since 1958 and previously carried a penalty of up to $250.
