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Should Jaywalking Become Legal?
San Jose Mercury News ^ | April 19, 2022 | Gary Richards

Posted on 04/20/2022 2:44:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Q: When walking in the neighborhood, I often prefer to cross the street by jaywalking in the middle of the block when there are no moving vehicles nearby. It seems safer than using a crosswalk at the corner, where vehicles may approach from several directions, often turning onto a side street, occasionally with distracted drivers.

When jaywalking this way, we don’t have to wait a long time for the light to change, or to rely on the safety of drivers. We just protect ourselves.

Dick Gaskil, Los Gatos

A: We need a Roadshow survey. Jaywalking could become legal, if a proposed bill is passed. It is one of several transportation bills being considered by the California Legislature. These bills would affect everyone, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Which ones do you like, and which do you not favor?

AB 2147 eliminates jaywalking ticketing for safe midblock crossings.
AB 1713 would allow all bike riders, aged 18 and over, to treat stop signs as yields.
AB 1909 would require motorists to change lanes when passing a bicyclist, and would allow bicyclists to cross with the “Walk” signal.
AB 2264 would require a headstart in timing of the light for pedestrians before traffic can move when a light turns green.
AB 2336 would allow a pilot program to test speed cameras in the Bay Area and in the Los Angeles area. While there are other bills, these are the primary ones it would be good to get your thoughts on.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Travel
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1 posted on 04/20/2022 2:44:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

It’s sort of like Marijuana. You don’t need to legalize it because it’s rarely enforced. And the penalty isn’t going to break a person anyway.


2 posted on 04/20/2022 2:46:07 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: nickcarraway

As a police chaplain, watching as they hosed the brains off of the sidewalk from a guy who had bounced off the hood of a car while jaywalking, I would say it’s a pretty stupid idea to make it legal.


3 posted on 04/20/2022 2:46:59 PM PDT by Gman
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To: nickcarraway

As long as they absolve any driver who smashes someone being stupid 🤪


4 posted on 04/20/2022 2:47:34 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
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To: nickcarraway

No. Then you’d get a bunch of “slow walkers” that thinks it’s their RIGHT to make you waste your day waiting on them.

Make em hustle and cooperate with traffic.


5 posted on 04/20/2022 2:47:38 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: nickcarraway

No, keep jaywalking illegal. It’s how Rudy Giuliani got rid of the squeegee men in NYC because he had the cops ticket them for jaywalking.


6 posted on 04/20/2022 2:50:56 PM PDT by Dahoser (I finally figured out what to call him: Fakephonyfraudident Biden.)
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To: nickcarraway

Are there still any states that DON’T allow making a right turn at the corner, at a red light?


7 posted on 04/20/2022 2:52:41 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: nickcarraway

I jaywalk all the time. Just be smart. It’s the dummies that screw up traffic and sometimes get themselves killed that ruin it for everybody.


8 posted on 04/20/2022 2:53:19 PM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: nickcarraway
Should Jaywalking Become Legal?

Jaywalking or black jaywalking?

There's a difference.

Jaywalking is when you walk against the signal after assessing that there's no immediate traffic and it's safe (although illegal) to do so. I've done this.

And then there's black jaywalking where you just walk out into the middle of a busy street, forcing drivers to slam on their breaks and rear-end each other to avoid hitting you. And if somebody does, a mob of bystanders will smash the car's windows, pull the driver out, and beat him to death on the pavement.

9 posted on 04/20/2022 2:54:56 PM PDT by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024)
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To: nickcarraway

It should still be illegal for white men...just because of their privilege.


10 posted on 04/20/2022 2:55:50 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: nickcarraway

For those of us who have lived much of our lives in and around NYC: what is this “jaywalking” you are talking about?


11 posted on 04/20/2022 2:57:06 PM PDT by Clemenza (I have no tolerance for tolerance)
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To: Signalman

I’m pretty sure it’s legal nationwide, unless the intersection is specifically marked for no turns on red.


12 posted on 04/20/2022 2:57:30 PM PDT by mykroar (There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. - Sun Tzu)
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To: nickcarraway

Just get rid of all laws, people aren’t obeying them anyway. Let’s just go back to the laws of the Wild West. Everyone just carry a gun and shoot anyone you want.


13 posted on 04/20/2022 2:59:56 PM PDT by McGavin999 (To shut down the border tell the administration the cartel is smuggling Ivermectin )
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To: mykroar

I grew up in Jersey and left in 1969. Moved to CA and now NV. If I recall correctly, you could not make a rt turn at red light back in those days. But I’m not 100% certain.


14 posted on 04/20/2022 3:01:39 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: glorgau

Call it the “Dwayne Haskins Law”.


15 posted on 04/20/2022 3:03:26 PM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: Drew68

“Jaywalking or black jaywalking? There’s a difference”

Absolutely correct. I see it often in downtown Minneapolis. Many of them do it deliberately like they’re daring you to hit them or like they don’t give a s***about cars, trucks, etc in the road.


16 posted on 04/20/2022 3:03:28 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: nickcarraway
Cross at the green, not in between! Anyone remember this little ditty when we were young skulls full of mush?
17 posted on 04/20/2022 3:04:06 PM PDT by Impala64ssa (If a liar's pants really did catch on fire CBC, ABC, CNN and MSNBC would be more fun to watch)
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To: nickcarraway

Speed cameras should be unconstitutional as you cannot confront your accuser.


18 posted on 04/20/2022 3:10:06 PM PDT by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and don't wish to smile.)
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To: Gman

Why, did it being illegal save that guy’s life???


19 posted on 04/20/2022 3:11:40 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: nickcarraway

Make it legal only if giving drivers immunity.


20 posted on 04/20/2022 3:11:51 PM PDT by Reno89519 (FJB. Respect America, Embrace America, Buy American, Hire American.)
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