New York City Legalizes Jaywalking, Says the Law is Historically Racist
New York City has officially legalized jaywalking, with proponents arguing the law had disproportionately affected black and Hispanic residents.
Despite jaywalking being outlawed in the city since 1958, the city council recently passed a bill permitting the practice. Mayor Eric Adams chose not to veto the legislation, allowing it to take effect in about 120 days.
Previously, those caught jaywalking could face fines up to $300. According to The New York Times, around 200 pedestrians have been killed while jaywalking in New York over the last five years.
In its reporting of the law change, the Times argued that jaywalking laws have a history of specifically targeting non-white residents, reporting that “jaywalking laws, historically used to target Black and Latino residents, were not evenly enforced in New York, and the Council bill was primarily a racial justice measure.” Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, who introduced the bill, echoed this sentiment.
“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,” Narcisse stated.
Other advocacy groups, like the Legal Aid Society, have also argued that jaywalking laws are discriminatory. “Decriminalizing jaywalking in New York City is long overdue and eradicates a mechanism that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has, for decades, employed as a pretext to stop, question, and frisk New Yorkers, especially those from communities of color,” the group commented.
However, not everyone is supportive of the change. City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli criticized the legislation, saying it is “part of a broad decriminalization of everything.”
Councilwoman Joann Ariola also voiced safety concerns, asking, “How can anyone imagine this is a good idea considering the [amount] of pedestrian deaths we continue to have each year? It would only put more pedestrians in danger.”
