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 Maryland, jaywalking is considered a pedestrian violation where an individual crosses the street outside of a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Maryland law requires that vehicles yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks, as well as at intersections with stop signs, even if there are no specific crosswalk markings. However, pedestrians are expected to yield to vehicles when crossing roads at any point that is not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. The Maryland Transportation Code § 21-503 outlines the rules for pedestrian crossings, emphasizing that pedestrians should not leave a curb or other place of safety to walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. Penalties for jaywalking in Maryland typically involve fines, which may vary by jurisdiction within the state. While these fines are generally not as severe as those for traffic violations, they are intended to discourage unsafe crossing practices and promote pedestrian safety.