NationStates Jolt Archive

What do you think about "jaywalking" laws? And do you have them where you live?

For those that don't know, "jaywalking" in a term used in the United States for crossing the road either a. when you're not at a crossing or b. when the "don't walk" sign is showing.

In the UK, there are no such laws (as far as I am aware). In London for example, people cross whenever and often wherever they can, using the crossing button only if there's no other way of getting across.

I would be pretty annoyed if the government started using taxpayer's money to have the police arrest people for crossing the road in a supposedly unsafe way.

I can see ticketing jaywalkers if they impede traffic, but otherwise crossing in an 'unsafe' manner shouldn't get a jaywalker a ticket.

I am a guilty jaywalker.

This topic is too controversial and deeply personal for me to discuss...

*flees in tears*

Jaywalkers are dangerous hooligans. Either by design or by sheer laziness, they impede good men and women from going about their normal lives. They are dissatisfied with all forms of authority, listen to Hair Metal, and are obviously sexually impotent.

Here there's "Jaywalking" (which is crossing while not at a lit intersection or crosswalk) and "crossing against the red" (which is pretty self explanatory). I had a cop drive by and wag his finger at me while I was jaywalking, but that was it. I don't know anyone in anywhere who has actually received a ticket for breaking any of these laws. But then again, most do it when there aren't any cops around. :p

Beats the fuck out of me, if we do no one bothers inforcing them, although I suppose it might come up if you get your self run over as a result;)

I haven't ever heard of anyone getting arrested for jaywalking.

I have heard of many kids in my area that were hit by cars jaywalking. It's always safest to cross at a crosswalk when traffic is stopped for you.

I think we have it here but it's not enforced.

Beats the fuck out of me, if we do no one bothers inforcing them, although I suppose it might come up if you get your self run over as a result;)

amusingly enough, even with jaywalking laws, in most states in the US, if a driver hits a pedestrian, in ANY circumstances, it is either no fault, or the drivers fault.

if a jaywalker crosses the road illegally, and a driver hits him, it's the drivers fault. It is NEVER the fault of a pedestrian if the pedestrian gets hit.

Some states it's different. Nevada for one, where if a pedestrian jaywalks, and the driver makes reasonable efforts to avoid the accident, it's the pedestrian's fault. But here in massachussets for example, a driver who hits a jaywalker is still at fault.

when the police sees that here they come to you and say something like: "there are crossings for a reason you know, go back and use them" that's it.

I was in Poland with some friends a couple of summers back, and we were stopped by police for jaywalking near the station in Warsaw. They didn't speak much English, and we didn't speak any Polish, and so they didn't bother taking it any further, except for pointing to a crossing about 200 metres away.

There was an article about jaywalking on the BBC News website a couple of weeks ago, if anyone can be bothered to find it.

What do you think about "jaywalking" laws? And do you have them where you live?

For those that don't know, "jaywalking" in a term used in the United States for crossing the road either a. when you're not at a crossing or b. when the "don't walk" sign is showing.

In the UK, there are no such laws (as far as I am aware). In London for example, people cross whenever and often wherever they can, using the crossing button only if there's no other way of getting across.

I would be pretty annoyed if the government started using taxpayer's money to have the police arrest people for crossing the road in a supposedly unsafe way.

Jaywalking here results in a ticket and fine. but officers will only enforce that when 1) they are there and not doing anything else. 2) it's near ticket quota time.

Here there's "Jaywalking" (which is crossing while not at a lit intersection or crosswalk) and "crossing against the red" (which is pretty self explanatory). I had a cop drive by and wag his finger at me while I was jaywalking, but that was it. I don't know anyone in anywhere who has actually received a ticket for breaking any of these laws. But then again, most do it when there aren't any cops around. :p

I had a cop reprimand me for crossing against the light right in front of him, but I think he was more annoyed that I ignored his presence than that I broke the law.

I just learned yesterday I think that walking on a "Don't Walk" is jaywalking. Personally I find crosswalks to be very dangerous when there is no crossing guard like there is at my school. When I stay after and they're gone, I go down the road and jaywalk because I only have to watch two directions instead of four. And usually one has a red light.

I had a cop reprimand me for crossing against the light right in front of him, but I think he was more annoyed that I ignored his presence than that I broke the law.

Cops are like trolls, they hate being ignored.

Cops are like trolls, they hate being ignored.

:D I've known one or two and they've been okay, but I only know them socially, not when they're on duty. Then, yeah, they could be trollish.

not sure. but I do it all the time, since in Warsaw's city centr waiting times for aa "walk" sign are incredibly long, and the underground tunnels are baisically a no-go zone for anyone who does not want to run into pickpockets, drug addacts, and all those other scary people down there.

Jaywalking? Is that one of those things that is there for safety yet everyone ignores. As far as I'm aware there is no such law in the UK.

Jaywalking? Is that one of those things that is there for safety yet everyone ignores. As far as I'm aware there is no such law in the UK.

You are right.
No such law exists here.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2550641.html

I don't see the problem, the idea of pedestrian crossings are if there is no other way to cross due to traffic. I cross whenever the road is free.

i think they're ridiculous.

My mates dad went to america and "jaywalked" as he would normaly do, but when he got the other side of the road a copper told him to cross back over the road and he swears the cop was reaching for his gun. jaywalking =:mp5:

I think laws like that exist here, but I've never heard of anyone being booked for it.

You can get a $75 ticket for jaywalking by my university. Students getting plastered has been a problem.

Its always funny because somehow the engineering quad and the main quad is seperated by the busiest street in town, and I have ten minutes every day to get from the lecture hall where my chemistry class is to my physics class across the street. You always see a big herd of engineers and physical scientists trying to guess how and when to cross..

As far as I know, you had to pay a fee of 15 € in Germany - but normaly the police doesn't enforce it, so I'm not totally sure about it. I could ask my brother-in-law, he is a police man.

Guliani had a big crackdown on it during the 90s. He even went so far as to have barriers put up on the sidewalk so you couldn't cross in the middle of the street in some places.

It was a real fuker trying to climb over them when you were drunk. Bloody dangerous too what with the cabs whizzing by.

You can get a $75 ticket for jaywalking by my university. Students getting plastered has been a problem.

Its always funny because somehow the engineering quad and the main quad is seperated by the busiest street in town, and I have ten minutes every day to get from the lecture hall where my chemistry class is to my physics class across the street. You always see a big herd of engineers and physical scientists trying to guess how and when to cross..

75$? This is more than I had to pay for driving 24 km/h too fast... (Well, I've simply not seen the sign saying "70" and thought I would be allowed to drive 100.)

What would you have to pay for this? 500$ or more? :eek:

But here in massachussets for example, a driver who hits a jaywalker is still at fault.

Makes sense to me. I mean, given that they're driving in Massachusetts, they're almost certainly doing something wrong. ;)

I generally wait for crossings, but I often wonder why, since a lot of drivers ignore them anyway (on numerous times i've been tooted and almost run over because someone ignored a pedestrian crossing).

well i think the're insane and don't protect anyone. the important thing is to pay attention to what you are doing. to cross where and when it is safe, or as safe as it's going to get anyway, and not blindly, ignorantly, distractedly, or failing to pay attention to what you are doing.

far to many places are engineered with only the convenience of driving in mind and pedestrian safety takes the hindmost. in such places and conditions, the designated crossing places are often NOT the safest places to do so.

now IF, pedestrian safety in the design of crossing places WERE the paramount priority, THEN jaywalking laws would make some sense.

the jaywalking law of reality is of course self enforcing, those who pay no attention to what they are doing, whether walking or in a car, are certainly more likely, sooner or later, to either get run over or run over someone. dead, seriously injured, or in jail having killed or injured someone.

but jaywalking laws under the law, are another insanity of ego expecting to manipulate reality by decree.

=^^=
.../\...

I have been fined for jaywalking in Melbourne: corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street one lunchtime. If you know Melbourne you would understand that hundreds had the amusement of watching the policeman book me.

It didn't have any effect on my jaywalking habits. I think it's worked out to cost me about a dollar a year to do it.:cool:

I have been fined for jaywalking in Melbourne: corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street one lunchtime. If you know Melbourne you would understand that hundreds had the amusement of watching the policeman book me.

It didn't have any effect on my jaywalking habits. I think it's worked out to cost me about a dollar a year to do it.:cool:

Hehe, i'm pretty positive i've jaywalked there as well. How much was the fine?

My mates dad went to america and "jaywalked" as he would normaly do, but when he got the other side of the road a copper told him to cross back over the road and he swears the cop was reaching for his gun. jaywalking =:mp5:

So the cop made him jaywalk as a punishment for jaywalking?

Two days ago I was driving my old truck down a busy street. I was obeying the law, actually going only 40 in a 45 zone (I was in no hurry and there just happened to be a cop right behind me). As I approached an intersection I noticed a large SUV in the #1 lane (I was in the #2 lane) slowing down even though the signal was green. I took my foot off the gas warily but since my lane was clear and the signal was green I continued past the SUV. As I did I saw a young girl of about 13-14 dashing across the street directly into my path. She had jaywalked out to the center island on the far side of the intersection and the driver of the SUV had slowed to allow her to continue her illegal crossing not realizing that by doing so he was actually blocking my view of her with his oversized vehicle. I saw the girl and she saw me at the same instant. She went down in a slide trying to stop her dash into my path (that would have likely resulted in her death) and I slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right. She ended up partially in my lane but I was able to alter my course enough to avoid her. If either of us had reacted a half second later she would have paid for it in flesh. When I saw the cop in my mirror pulling over and stopping the girl as she ran off all I could think was 'I hope he writes her a ticket'. I have two daughters about her age and if I had hit and killed her I probably would have had nightmares about it for years.

Jaywalking laws are there for a reason. I personally know two people that have stuck and killed people crossing illegally. I witnessed a young man be hit while jaywalking two years ago, he was wearing dark clothes and crossing a busy street at night. You want to kill yourself, please do it some way that doesn't leave some innocent motorist an emotional wreck.

Hehe, i'm pretty positive i've jaywalked there as well. How much was the fine?

It's a while ago. From memory it was a token amount. $50 or so.

I have been fined for jaywalking in Melbourne: corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street one lunchtime. If you know Melbourne you would understand that hundreds had the amusement of watching the policeman book me.

It didn't have any effect on my jaywalking habits. I think it's worked out to cost me about a dollar a year to do it.:cool:

:p I've jaywalked there many a time!

I'd say the most popular jaywalking spots are probably the Flinders St/Swanston St and Flinders St/Elizabeth St intersections.

I would be pretty annoyed if the government started using taxpayer's money to have the police arrest people for crossing the road in a supposedly unsafe way.

Nobody gets arrested. They will give you a ticket, however. I think it's about $20. I wouldn't know. Policemen usually have better things to do than ticket people for jaywalking (unless serious risk came of it).

For those that don't know, "jaywalking" in a term used in the United States for crossing the road either a. when you're not at a crossing or b. when the "don't walk" sign is showing.

Technically, there's a loophole. (Don't push it, I'm sure there's a loophole to the loophole too.) If you're crossing at a corner, whether a crosswalk is marked or not, there is still technically an "implied crosswalk." (This is handy for major streets with crosswalks only every few blocks.) However, if you cross unsafely or is, even worse, you cause an accident, I'm sure this becomes irrelevant. I believe the correct phrase is "nice knowing ya..."

I'd say the most popular jaywalking spots are probably the Flinders St/Swanston St and Flinders St/Elizabeth St intersections.

Yeah, those are my favourites too. :p

People jaywalk all the time up in Virginia, but not here in my little NC town. Perhaps it's because the town has no sidewalks, even though we are now 5000 people strong and the busiest community in the county. :rolleyes:

I have been fined for jaywalking in Melbourne: corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street one lunchtime. If you know Melbourne you would understand that hundreds had the amusement of watching the policeman book me.

It didn't have any effect on my jaywalking habits. I think it's worked out to cost me about a dollar a year to do it.:cool:

:p I've jaywalked there many a time!

I'd say the most popular jaywalking spots are probably the Flinders St/Swanston St and Flinders St/Elizabeth St intersections.

i had a 20 minute shouting match with a cop on Lygon Street at 8pm on a friday over a supposed jaywalking infringement - in front of hundreds of witnesses in the middle of dinner

I generally wait for crossings, but I often wonder why, since a lot of drivers ignore them anyway (on numerous times i've been tooted and almost run over because someone ignored a pedestrian crossing).

At the moment, I live in France, there are lots of crossings, sometimes every 50 meters, and often at places where brave pedestrians who want to cross the street are hard to see.

So they are often ignored here.

At the moment, I live in France, there are lots of crossings, sometimes every 50 meters, and often at places where brave pedestrians who want to cross the street are hard to see.

So they are often ignored here.

Sucks, doesn't it? There's one in particular near me that is particularly annoying - the crossing itself is right next to an intersection, and drivers in a hurry to turn left often cut the corner without watching for pedestrians. (I don't think there's a stop light activated on their end when the pedestrians have a green light...)

Normally i'd avoid it and cross elsewhere, but it's the only one across that road for a couple of hundred metres and you have to cross yet more crossings to get there. Unfortunately, jaywalking isn't an option here as trying to cross a six lane highway without using a crossing is asking for trouble (not to mention perhaps a meeting with a car windshield :p). Unfortunately, it just happens to be on my way home from the train station. I'll be hit whilst crossing it one day, I knows it...

Police in Brisbane, Australia honked their horn at me when i ran in front of their car when i was over there in '02.
If it doesn't impede traffic it is largely fine in my books.