Jaywalking Now Officially Legal

DANA BINFET, HOST: Good news for New Yorkers who jaywalk. In case you didn’t know, it wasn’t always legal. As Hannah Weaver reports, the final step to legalize the practice took place this morning. 

HANNAH WEAVER, BYLINE: I’m on the corner of 114th and Broadway. Pedestrians are confidently crossing through six lanes of traffic. We've got buses, bikes, and taxis. For the next few minutes, jaywalking is still technically illegal. But most of the people who I spoke to here had no idea, like Paul Stetzer.

WEAVER: It's about to become officially legal in like five minutes, did you know that? 

STETZER: It hasn't always been legal? It's certainly always been the custom.

WEAVER: While it may be the custom, fines for jaywalking used to run you up to $250. But NYPD rarely gave tickets. Then in October, City Council voted to decriminalize jaywalking. This morning, the Department of Transportation is about to hold a hearing to make their rules match the City Council vote. Which gives us just enough time for one final flirt with the law.

STETZER: I mean, like, right now, all right, should we go? 

WEAVER: Sure, let's go. We're walking across the street. 

WEAVER: Are you gonna change anything about your jaywalking habits now that it's legal? Are you going to take even more advantage of it? 

STETZER: No, I'm not sure I could.

WEAVER: Well, no matter how you’re crossing, make sure you look both ways first. Hannah Weaver, Columbia Radio News.