BOSTON – New York City is official legalize jaywalking from next year. And when WBZ-TV asked people in Boston if their city should follow suit, most didn’t even know they were breaking the law.
‘A lot of people just go for it’
“I think pretty much everyone is just jaywalking,” Grace Karol said.
“I feel like I see a lot of people just going for it,” Ivy Jin said.
Jaywalking and Boston go hand in hand, or perhaps foot in foot. In a fast-paced city, who really has the time to stand and wait on the corner?
“I feel like at most intersections I see people know the lights, or sometimes they don’t know the lights,” Cody Troutman said. “They try to time it, they jump right out and definitely cross whenever they can.”
Lawmakers in New York made the change after a study found that 90% of jaywalking tickets went to people of color.
Is jaywalking illegal in Boston?
In Boston, you can technically get a ticket for jaywalking. Massachusetts law only stipulates a $1 fine for the first three violations and $2 for each violation thereafter. There have been failed attempts on Beacon Hill to do that increase penalties for jaywalkersespecially if it is distracted by their phone.
“I didn’t know it was illegal,” Jin said. “I feel like people do it so much.”
Troutman said he has never seen anyone get a ticket for jaywalking in Boston.
“I’ve never seen a quote,” he said. “Lots of honking cars and yelling from other people, but never a quote.”
WBZ-TV contacted Boston police to see how many jaywalking tickets they gave out last year, but they said they don’t keep track.
In the meantime, in Boston, whether or not to wait for the “Walk” sign doesn’t seem to be much of a question.
“I’m not going to step in front of a car,” John Mark said. “But cars don’t own the streets, we own the streets.”
