Jaywalking is now legal in New York City. Legislation passed by the City Council officially became law over the weekend after Mayor Eric Adams declined to sign or veto it after 30 days.
This law was already not being enforced. Only 463 people actually got in trouble for breaking it in 2023, so the odds of being punished for jaywalking that year were about the same as the odds of being murdered.
I do wonder what effect repealing the law will have on civil suits. If a driver hits a pedestrian, are there now new situations in which the driver is liable? The article says
People may also still be liable in civil actions for accidents caused by jaywalking
This law was already not being enforced. Only 463 people actually got in trouble for breaking it in 2023, so the odds of being punished for jaywalking that year were about the same as the odds of being murdered.
I do wonder what effect repealing the law will have on civil suits. If a driver hits a pedestrian, are there now new situations in which the driver is liable? The article says
but that’s quite vague.
I think the point is cops can’t use jaywalki g as a pretense to stop and frisk, ask for ID, etc now.