Local legislators are trying to pass a revision to the California jaywalking law, that would change the way pedestrians are cited for crossing the street outside of an intersection.
San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting has an amendment to the bill that would allow safe-jaywalking. He said he wants to allow people to have the freedom to walk anywhere at any time as long as they are doing it safely.
"The bill defines when an officer can stop a pedestrian for crossing the street, specified as only when a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of the collision," Ting said.
Rio Scharf is an attorney with the Lawyers Committee for Civil rights, he said "nonsensical jaywalking laws" have not been proven to reduce jaywalking or increase public safety.
"Currently jaywalking laws allow law enforcement an excuse to stop anyone they want," Scharf said.
Scharf explained that the revision would only allow law enforcement to cite people when they are crossing the road in an "unreasonably hazardous situation." He added that the citation may not be very much money but fees and assessments can get added to leave someone with a hefty fine.
"The price tag of a jaywalking citation is not high on its own, but when fees and assessments are added it can amount to nearly $500," he said. "$500 dollars simply for crossing the street."
AB 2147 would permit law enforcement to initiate a jaywalking charge only if the situation involves an immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle or other moving transportation, according to the bill.
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