New York City legalizes jaywalking, says it disproportionality impacts black and brown people

Jaywalking has been legalized in New York City. The legislation, which sought to remove penalties for crossing streets outside designated crosswalks, was advocated for by groups claiming the law has disproportionately targeted Black and Latino residents.

The Legal Aid Society, one of the leading voices that was urging Mayor Eric Adams to finalize the legislation, stated in September when the bill was passed that jaywalking enforcement has “long served as a pretext for over-policing that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx communities, ensnaring New Yorkers of color in the criminal legal system," CBS News reported. The organization’s statement argued that jaywalking regulations function more as tools of biased policing than as measures to protect public safety.

Transportation Alternatives, another advocacy group, also supported the bill, labeling jaywalking laws as outdated and ineffective at improving safety. 

However, some New Yorkers remain wary. Harlem resident Charlie Pasaral told CBS News at the time the bill was passed, “That’s like a double-edged knife,” referring to the fact that although it is quicker to jaywalk it can be dangerous.

"It's just faster when you need to get to where you gotta go, if you need to catch another bus or something like that. At the same time, it's kind of dangerous. If you're not watching where you're going, you could get hit," added fellow Harlem resident Asia Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams refused to either sign or veto the law, which allowed the legislation to take effect after 30 days. That window ended this week.

Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who sponsored the legislation, said after the bill was enacted, "Let’s be real, every New Yorker jaywalks. People are simply trying to get where they need to go. Laws that penalize common behaviors for everyday movement shouldn’t exist, especially when they unfairly impact communities of color," PIX 11 reported.

New York's bill mirrors similar legislation passed in California last year. Known as the “Freedom to Walk Act,” California’s law permits pedestrians to cross outside of crosswalks without fear of citation. Similarly, those in favor of the law claimed that jaywalking disproportionately hurts black and brown residents. Assembly Member Phil Ting, who sponsored the California law, claimed at the time that “Everybody has the freedom to walk across the street without being worried about being cited or being stopped…We see that African-Americans are five times more likely to get cited than other individuals.”