'Equity' – New York City legalizes jaywalking, says it disproportionality impacts black and brown people
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who sponsored the legislation, said after the bill was enacted, "Laws that penalize common behaviors for everyday movement shouldn’t exist,… pic.twitter.com/EassOGjcCc
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Jaywalking has been legalized in New York City. The legislation, which sought to remove penalties for crossing streets outside designated crosswalks, was advocated for by groups claiming the law has disproportionately targeted Black and Latino residents.
The Legal Aid Society, one of the leading voices that was urging Mayor Eric Adams to finalize the legislation, stated in September when the bill was passed that jaywalking enforcement has “long served as a pretext for over-policing that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx communities, ensnaring New Yorkers of color in the criminal legal system,” CBS News reported. The organization’s statement argued that jaywalking regulations function more as tools of biased policing than as measures to protect public safety.
Transportation Alternatives, another advocacy group, also supported the bill, labeling jaywalking laws as outdated and ineffective at improving safety.