In a city where jaywalking is practically second nature, New Yorkers can now cross the street however they please — legally. A new law, which officially went into effect over the weekend after Mayor Eric Adams allowed it to pass without his signature or veto, effectively decriminalizes the act of crossing outside designated crosswalks or against traffic lights, a longstanding hallmark of the city’s pedestrian life.
Brooklyn Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who spearheaded the legislation, argued that penalizing jaywalking unfairly targeted communities of color. “Let’s be real, every New Yorker jaywalks. People are simply trying to get where they need to go,” she said. Narcisse pointed out that over 90% of last year’s jaywalking tickets were given to Black and Latino individuals.
The new rule lets pedestrians cross anywhere, even mid-block, and against the signal, though it cautions them to yield to traffic with the right of way. City officials, however, are not entirely enthusiastic. Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, emphasized the risks involved with crossing outside of crosswalks. “All road users are safer when everyone follows traffic rules,” she said, noting that the city’s preference is for people to cross at designated crossings. Garcia also underscored that while jaywalking is no longer an offense, individuals can still be held liable in civil cases if accidents result from crossing irresponsibly.
The policy shift aligns New York with a growing number of cities and states — from California and Nevada to Denver and Kansas City, Missouri — that have recently decriminalized jaywalking, according to pedestrian advocacy group America Walks. The group’s executive director, Mike McGinn, criticized traditional jaywalking laws as outdated, saying they fail to address core safety concerns like speeding, poor street design, and oversized vehicles. As McGinn noted, jaywalking laws were pushed by the auto industry in the 1930s to establish cars’ dominance on city streets, often at the expense of pedestrian freedom.
For many, the law change is overdue. The Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit advocating for marginalized New Yorkers, welcomed the decriminalization. They argue that the jaywalking law served as a pretext for stops and frisks that disproportionately affected communities of color. “With this legislation now codified, we hope that both the Adams Administration and the City Council will continue to abolish relic laws that serve no public safety purpose and only ensnare people in the criminal legal system,” the organization stated.
The NYPD and its largest union have been notably silent on the issue, though Narcisse reported that officers she’s spoken with support the change. “No one’s ever said, ‘I’m so glad they caught that jaywalker,’” she remarked. For Narcisse and her allies, the focus should shift toward real public safety priorities, not enforcement of a practice that, for New Yorkers, is practically as iconic as the city skyline itself.
