Jaywalking to Be Fully Decriminalized in NYC

Jaywalking will officially be decriminalized as of April 17, when new NYC Department of Transportation rules go into effect. This means that New Yorkers who jaywalk—defined as crossing the street at a spot other than the crosswalk, such as at mid-block—will no longer get hit with a potential $250 fine and a summons.

The change is technically a formalized codification of a measure the New York City Council passed last October, by a significant majority of 40-8. Mayor Eric Adams declined to either sign or veto the measure for 30 days, meaning that the bill automatically became law, although it will only go into effect now.

However, pedestrians can still be civilly sued if they jaywalk and end up causing a traffic accident, meaning that it’s not necessarily advisable to do so. During last year’s City Council hearing on the bill, DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione testified both that “jaywalking is a common practice in New York City” and that it could “have deadly consequences.” Indeed, the summary of the bill mandated that it would “require the Department of Transportation to conduct an education effort regarding the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians and of operators of motor vehicles, bicycles, and other mobility devices on city roadways.”

”Over the last five years, 200 people lost their lives while crossing the street mid-block or against the signal, making up about 34 percent of all pedestrian fatalities,” she added.

The City Council advanced the bill after data revealed that 92 percent of people who had been stopped for jaywalking violations were people of color, Streetsblog reported at the time, demonstrating a clear pattern of racially discriminatory enforcement. Over the first six months of 2024 in particular, the NYPD issued 786 “pedestrian-related summonses,” 77 percent of which went toward people of color. Democratic Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, a nurse representing Brooklyn’s 46th District, was the bill’s sponsor. As far as Manhattan goes, City Council Member Erik Bottcher—who represents neighborhoods including Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen—was a co-sponsor.

The law came as a surprise to some locals when it passed last fall, as posts on the NextDoor site make evident. Rob Frydlewicz, hailing from the West Village, noted: “I never knew it was illegal. Because of sidewalk congestion, it’s the only way to get around in a timely manner. In 45 years I’ve never been ticketed.”

Skip Murphy, who noted that he grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and lives in Chelsea, echoed the sentiment. “Jaywalking is and has always been part of living in the city.” There’s nothing wrong with it, he continued, as long as people are careful.

Jeffrey Goodman chimed in to state his belief that only out-of-town visitors don’t jaywalk, and that “part of being a true New Yawka is crossing against a light.”

Others, however, highlighted the traffic accidents and risks that jaywalking poses to bikers. Eleanor Forman said that she wishes “people wouldn’t make it more difficult and dangerous for me to avoid them as I cycle Manhattan streets. Please don’t look at your phone as you step into the street!”