NYC Councilwoman Proposes Decriminalizing Jaywalking to Address Racial Disparities
NEW YORK CITY, NY—New York City Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse has sparked a significant debate with her proposal to decriminalize jaywalking, highlighting a racial disparity in the enforcement of current laws. A report by the NYC Transportation Committee revealed that jaywalking tickets are disproportionately issued to Black and Latino New Yorkers, raising concerns about potential racial bias in policing practices.
In 2023, 467 jaywalking summonses were issued, with 92 percent of these going to Black or Latino individuals. This stark disproportionality raises questions, as there is no evidence to suggest that these communities commit over 90 percent of jaywalking infractions. Councilwoman Narcisse pointed out the clear discrepancy, emphasizing that it is unlikely that “only Black and Latino jaywalkers ever jaywalk.”
“Press reports and data analysis from the council have found that jaywalking tickets are disproportionately given to Black and Latino New Yorkers. Has there been any analysis or review to determine the cause of this disparity? Certainly, no one can claim that only Black and Latino jaywalkers ever jaywalk, so I just want to understand this a bit better,” “Mercedes Narcisse said.
The distribution of summonses is notably uneven across the city. Three police precincts—Washington Heights’ 33rd Precinct, central Brooklyn’s 79th Precinct, and Upper Manhattan’s 28th Precinct—accounted for nearly a quarter of all jaywalking tickets, almost exclusively to Black or Latino pedestrians. This enforcement pattern does not align with areas where pedestrian injuries are most frequent, suggesting that the current jaywalking laws might not primarily serve public safety.
Supporters of decriminalization argue that eliminating penalties for jaywalking could reduce unnecessary police interactions with Black and Latino communities, potentially fostering a fairer application of law enforcement. However, opponents worry that such a change might compromise pedestrian safety, despite evidence suggesting that the decriminalization of jaywalking does not necessarily lead to more dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
The debate over jaywalking laws in NYC is set against a backdrop of broader discussions on policing and racial equity in the United States.