Assembly Approves Ting Proposal to End Unnecessary Jaywalk Ticketing

In a continued effort to seek fairness in fines and prevent potentially escalating police stops for jaywalking, the California State Assembly today approved AB 2147, The Freedom To Walk Act, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The legislation legalizes street crossings outside of an intersection when safe to do so, essentially ending law enforcement’s ability to cite pedestrians for jaywalking when roadways are clear. Jaywalking is arbitrarily enforced throughout California with tickets disproportionately given to people of color and individuals of modest means.
“We should be encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk more for health and environmental reasons. But when expensive tickets and unnecessary confrontations with police impact only certain communities, it’s time to reconsider how we use our law enforcement resources and whether our jaywalking laws really do protect pedestrians” said Ting.