Newsom signs bill decriminalizing jaywalking in California

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A bill that decriminalizes jaywalking when it’s safe to cross the street has been signed by California Gov. Gavin Newson.
• Bill proponent Phil Ting noted that the Black population is disproportionately targeted for jaywalking tickets.
• The bill, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2023, states that an officer can only stop and cite for jaywalking when there’s an immediate danger of collision.

Gov. Gavin Newson of California signed over 100 bills on Friday, including AB-2147, a bill that decriminalizes jaywalking when it is safe to cross the street.

Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) proposed the bill, which is also called the Freedom to Walk Act. According to the bill, an officer can only stop a pedestrian and cite them for jaywalking when “there is an immediate danger of a collision.”

Ting noted that officers in California have been “arbitrarily” enforcing the law by “disproportionately” giving tickets to “people of color and lower-income individuals who cannot afford tickets that can often total hundreds of dollars.”

Ting’s office noted that there have been instances when an arrest or citation for jaywalking escalated into violence.

“It should not be a criminal offense to safely cross the street,” Ting declared. “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.”

Ting added, “Plus, we should be encouraging people to get out of their cars and walk for health and environmental reasons.” 

CalBike‘s Senior Policy Advocate, Jared Sanchez, also said that jaywalking laws “create opportunities for police to racially profile.” 

“A jaywalking ticket can turn into a potentially life-threatening police encounter,” Sanchez continued, “Especially for Black people, who are disproportionately targeted and suffer the most severe consequences of inequitable law enforcement.” 

The newly signed law will take effect first thing next year on Jan. 1, 2023.

Source: Fox News