Jaywalking Legalized in NYC

By Idy Perl
So walking across the street is legal now in New York City.
Last month the City Council passed legislation to legalize jaywalking, the practice of crossing the street outside of crosswalks or against traffic lights. Mayor Adams had 30 days to veto the legislation, which he didn’t do, allowing it to become a law over the weekend.
Council member Mercedes Narcisse from Brooklyn, who sponsored the legislation, said that the law ends racial disparity, since more than 90% of jaywalking tickets in the past year were issued to people of color.
Many are of the opinion that ticketing jaywalkers doesn’t actually make the roads safer. Many major cities have legalized jaywalking, which allows police officers to focus on more serious crimes. Cities can improve road safety for pedestrians and cars by focusing on street design, speeding, and reckless drivers.
A spokesperson for Adams didn’t comment on his decision to allow the legislation to become a law but reminded pedestrians about the danger of crossing busy roads without following safety guidelines.