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 Virginia, jaywalking is addressed under state statutes that regulate pedestrian behavior on roadways. Virginia law requires pedestrians to use marked crosswalks where they are provided and obey pedestrian signals. Pedestrians are prohibited from suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety to walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield (Code of Virginia § 46.2-923). When crosswalks are not available, pedestrians are expected to cross at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb. Additionally, at intersections where traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver is required to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing within any clearly marked crosswalk or any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block (Code of Virginia § 46.2-924). However, pedestrians crossing a highway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles (Code of Virginia § 46.2-925). Penalties for jaywalking may include fines, which are typically less severe than those for traffic violations. Enforcement of jaywalking laws can vary, and local ordinances may also apply.