Shawn on January 12, 2006, at 10:22AM – #1

Slightly off topic, but there are many misconceptions regarding jaywalking. Some that I didn't know until recently are:

1.It is illegal to enter a crosswalk after the signal starts flashing. CVC#21456

2.The only time that you are NOT allowed to cross in the middle of a block is when BOTH intersections on either side have signals. If you cross in the middle of a block you must yield the right of way to vehicles unless you're in a crosswalk.

I don't know how #1 works with the new countdown pedestrian signals. They don't seem to fit the law.

"#2" is why it's okay to cross the streets in residential neighborhoods in the middle of the block. It's mostly not applicable downtown, but there are places where it is.

http://www.walksf.org/vehicleCodes.html

Timothy S. on January 12, 2006, at 12:25PM – #2

It's a big joke when members of law enforcment aren't doing much or anything about all the truly serious illegal activity taking place in downtown. If cops have enough time to hand out jaywalking tickets, then why the hell don't they ever seem to have much time to deal with drug dealers, taggers and people pissing on the sidewalks?

It's easy and lazy for cops to crack down on jaywalkers (rolls eyes) instead of the really significant illegal activity that spoils the area's quality of life. As far as I'm concerned, the police who are issuing jaywalking tickets are nothing but glorified tax collectors.

Tim Quinn on January 12, 2006, at 01:15PM – #3

Oh come on. They would not be cracking down if there was not a very good reason. To call the police lazy is just childish. I recommend you go on some of the neighborhood walks in Downtown. You will find the police have a very deep understanding of what is happening downtown and know that the problems are real, pervasive and very long standing. They care deeply about the lost souls on our streets, but also know from direct personal experience that helping these people is a very tricky thing.

The reality is always way more complicated than any eye-roller would like to think. I recommend that you find some 'cops' and shake his or her hand and have a conversation about our streets. You will come away far less certain of yourself.

Timothy S. on January 12, 2006, at 03:46PM – #4

"They would not be cracking down if there was not a very good reason."

There's more of a good reason here than in New York City? The folks in Gotham jaywalk like there's no tomorrow and yet that town manages to do quite well, thank you. By contrast, LA, whose cops have been prigs about jaywalking for decades, is a city infamous for its mostly barren sidewalks. But, worse, now it's a city whose downtown sidewalks, when they're busy at all, often are full of the wandering homeless, crack addicts, thugs and taggers.

Best of both worlds: a lot of sidewalks that people want to avoid or aren't too thrilled to be strolling on in the first place, and then the threat of being handed a jaywalking ticket around the bend.

Dana Gabbard on January 18, 2006, at 01:36PM – #5

Actually my experience is during the past 10 years jaywalking has become much more pervasive in Los Angeles than it used to be. I've been on buses where the operator had to slam the brakes when some careless fool stepped out to cross an arterial like Wilshire without regard to the obvious risk of being hit by walking in front of moving vehicles. The mind reels at the level of stupidity.

New Yorker on February 09, 2006, at 03:58PM – #6

I made my first and ONLY visit to Los Angeles in 1990. I was crossing the corner of 3rd Street and Olive when an LAPD officer on his motorcycle drove up to me and asked me where I was from. I told him New York and he told me "well, that figures, give me your ID". I gave it to him asking him what the problem was, he told me that I just crossed a "don't walk" sign.

Where I come from, people jaywalk all the time and I have never heard of anybody getting a ticket for jaywalking. In fact, I never even heard of the term "jaywalking" when I got that $20 ticket. I demanded to know why this has never been publicized that L.A. cops ticket pedestrians for walking a "don't walk" sign. He just gave me his attitude and told me "well the sign says 'don't walk', which means just that, 'don't walk'!" I asked him what if I didn't know you were enforcing the law, he just told me "ignorance is not a valid excuse". I said to him there were no cars passing when I crossed the street, then he just started putting words in my mouth saying "so what you are telling me is that as long as there are no cars, that gives you a right to break the law?" I said no more to him, it was going nowhere.

What's even more frustrating was that cop also said he's originally from New York himself and he claims that NYC also has laws against jaywalking. I ask him why I don't get ticketed then, he said "because the NYPD doesn't enforce the laws there".

As soon as the ticket was mailed to me in NYC, I paid the $20 fine and was done with it.

Please understand that I never meant any disrespect toward how you people do things over there. Had I known the police ticket jaywalkers, I would not have walked the "don't walk" light. I also think it's very disrespectful to target people who may not be familiar with your laws. The experience has soured my attitude towards L.A. and cops in general. I have warned many people about visiting your city saying that cops go after visitors who cross the "don't walk" sign.

Terry Bryant on November 10, 2006, at 12:01AM – #7

This Doesn't suprise me, back in 2002 I got a jaywalking ticket for breakdancing. still stops me from getting my license.

Leslie Lee on March 03, 2008, at 09:33AM – #8

I live in New York. I had a trip back in October to L.A., where I got a jay walking ticket. The white walking figure was lit when I stepped off the curb but quickly turned to the red blinking hand. Mind you no cars were coming and the signal light for the cars was still red. But since the blinking red hand was illuminated, I was unaware it was illegal to cross. I always understood the law to be if you've started walking across the street while the blinking hand was on, that you continue to cross but if it's blinking you don't begin to walk. The fine is very hefty in my opinion:$123.00, which is why I've decided to fight the ticket in court. I am frequently in L.A. so it's not such a big inconvenience to go to court. I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience in going to court for this ticket. I welcome any advice. Thanks. Leslie Lee

calwatch on March 31, 2008, at 08:00PM – #9

Pick up the book “How to Fight Your Ticket In California and Win”, or better yet, read the book online for free. Ironically, the Los Angeles Public Library offers the book through its NetLibrary service to any card holder.

Do a trial by declaration first. Many times officers don’t have the time to write a statement, especially for jaywalking offenses. Sometimes, judges will waive fines (like in Mayvis Coyle’s case) if you are indigent or have a good story, so put that in the declaration as well as the facts of the case. If the trial by declaration fails, ask for a trial de novo and force the officer to appear in court. Request the officer’s statement from the Court as it becomes a public record once it was filed. Remember that jaywalking is not a “points” offense on your driver’s license, and that making the government prove your case guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is your constitutional right. So make it as hard as possible.

Also, check to make sure that the road is governed by traffic signals at all intersections. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/07/20/MN148388.DTL If the road intersects a public alley, use that as your challenge. It occasionally works. You would have thought that after the fiasco of Mayvis Coyle they would have done better, but they haven’t.

Tiffany Thornton on May 13, 2008, at 11:57AM – #10

I don't understand I was hit by a car on a one way street but I have a jaywalking ticket

pak on April 15, 2009, at 12:19PM – #11

calwatch writes:

"...jaywalking is not a “points” offense on your driver’s license...".

Someone, where is this written please?

nichole on May 30, 2009, at 09:49AM – #12

I am working now with a client who has been indigent, unemployed, and back and forth between prison, jail, and the streets, for the past several years. Five years ago she picked up a jaywalking ticket, and was taken into custody that same day for about a week. She now has had the ticket resurface, with a failure to appear, from five years ago (the original court date was unknown to her, as she assumed it would be 1381'd while she was in jail). About a month ago, my client was called to court and sentenced to pay $436 by the end of 90 days, just to take care of this old ticket. At the arraignment, she tried to explain her situation to the judge, and to request community service, but he refused to do this and mandated the fine instead. Does anyone know whether she has the legal grounds to make an appeal? And/or what will happen if she doesn't pay it off by the end of the 90 days?

calwatch on July 12, 2009, at 12:39PM – #13

To answer pak's question, please read the aforementioned book. I am not going to cite it for you because I don't have it in front of me, but jaywalking is clearly not considered a moving violation that counts as points. Strangely enough, though, bicycle offenses can be, if the officer took down your driver's license number.

rj on January 04, 2010, at 09:54AM – #14

i just received a jaywalking ticket in Fullerton, Ca-- the fine is for $255 dollars. The ticket, I find, is counter productive in terms of revenue for the city, since I vow never to return to downtown Fullerton for any reason. Sorry small local business'.

abt on January 04, 2010, at 11:15PM – #15

The arresting officer has failed to correctly write down one of the numbers in my driver's licence on the ticket that I recieved down by the USC area. I wonder could I beat this ticket in a trial? Please give any feedback if you have gone to trial before as I have never contested a ticket such as this one. Thanks

JM on January 05, 2010, at 09:40AM – #16

Old thread, but still very pertinent. I've noticed an upswing in jaywalking tickets about once a month, so I'll have to go with cops trying to reach their quotas. I've seen people smoke crack in the middle of Fig at rush hour, endangering the lives of drivers and pedestrians, but never have I seen a junkie or a dealer get busted in broad daylight. On the other hand, I've seen people getting ticketed for jaywalking near the courts on Bunker Hill. It seems that cops are going where the money is, and that's pretty sad. I'm a pedestrian, but I feel like Downtown still favors cars.

bigphatcatlover on January 06, 2010, at 12:08PM – #17

Here's a thought: STOP jaywalking! Then the police will have more time to enforce other laws, and those that are either too lazy to go to the corner or are inconsiderate of drivers trying to dodge jaywalkers (I've even seen women with baby strollers pop out between cars) can avoid the penalties. What's so hard about crossing at the light (with the light)?

PS To Calwatch: A bicycle IS a vehical and is governed by the same traffic laws as cars, etc. They are not pedestrians.

Perhaps the next thing we can bitch about is people riding their bikes on the sidewalk? Drives me crazy! I can't tell you how many times I've nearly been run down by these idiots! There is a law on the books about it, but it's not enforced. Even the guys in purple do it.

Aaron on January 06, 2010, at 12:16PM – #18

bigphatcatlover, people are allowed to ride bicycles on sidewalks in the city of Los Angeles, fyi. Not saying I agree with it being right (bicyclists are terrorists on the streets for pedestrians) but that's the facts.

bigphatcatlover on January 07, 2010, at 10:40AM – #19

Aaron: I appreciate your sentiments, but I'm not sure where you got your "facts" - I looked it up in the motor vehicle code. It reads as follows:

California Vehicle Code Division 11 - Rules of the Road Chapter 1. Obedience to and Effect of Traffic Laws Article 4. Operation of Bicycles Section 21204:

Laws Applicable to Bicycle Use: 21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

09.A.01(1): A pedestrian is a person on foot or using a conveyance propelled by human power (skates, skateboard) other than a bicycle; and also includes disabled persons who may be using powered devices.

09.C.01(2): As you may recall, the definition of a pedestrian did not include bicycles. This is because bicycles are legally considered to be vehicles in California. Therefore, bicyclists are required to obey most of the same laws and have most of the same rights as do automobile drivers.

09.C.01(3): The motor vehicle code addresses issues associated with the registration, necessary equipment, and operation of bicycles on the roadway.

09.C.04(3): Bicycles must ride on the roadway, not the sidewalk. However, they must use bicycle lanes, when available.

So, can we start making citizens arrests now???