New York City, USA, took effect on the 26th local time on a bill to legalize ‘mudan crossing’.
In the meantime, jaywalking in New York had to pay a fine of up to $300 but will no longer be punished.
On the 26th of last month, New York City passed a bill to remove jaywalking items from administrative regulations and strengthen driver and pedestrian education.
The bill was officially announced when New York City Mayor Eric Adams did not veto the bill.
The reason New York City passed the bill is because of the racism controversy.
In 2019, 90% of the number of jaywalking crackdowns were people of color, black or Latino.
The New York City Council criticized “public power for using jaywalking regulations as a means of racism.”
However, it is pointed out that the risk of safety accidents has also increased as jaywalking has become legal.
About 200 people have died jaywalking in the past five years, and more than a third of all pedestrian deaths, the New York Times said.
Earlier in the United States, California, Nevada, and Virginia legalized jaywalking.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
