Jaywalking refers to a pedestrian who enters a roadway (usually to cross to the other side) in a place where there is no marked crosswalk or unmarked (but legally recognized) crosswalk. Jaywalking can be dangerous because vehicles may not have an obligation to yield to pedestrians where there is no crosswalk.

White painted lines generally designate a marked crosswalk where drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians. Pedestrians may also have the right of way at stop sign intersections and alleyway entrances where a sidewalk is interrupted, for example—even if there are no painted lines or crosswalk markings.

Although jaywalking tickets or citations are usually not as significant as traffic violations, there may be a fine attached to a ticket or citation—especially if the pedestrian does not accept the police officer’s admonishment about the dangers of jaywalking.

In Georgia, jaywalking is addressed under the state's pedestrian laws. Pedestrians are generally required to obey traffic control devices and use crosswalks where available. Under Georgia Code § 40-6-91, drivers must stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. However, pedestrians are prohibited from suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety and walking or running into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield (Georgia Code § 40-6-92). Outside of crosswalks, pedestrians must yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway. Penalties for jaywalking can include fines, and while they may not be as severe as those for traffic violations, they are intended to enforce pedestrian safety and discourage unsafe crossing behaviors.