Is jaywalking illegal in Arizona?

What the law says

Arizona does not use the word jaywalking. Its rules for pedestrians are in sections 28-791 to 28-794 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and they allow crossing outside a crosswalk in most places, with conditions.

You must yield. Under section 28-793(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a pedestrian crossing anywhere other than a marked crosswalk, or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, must yield the right of way to all vehicles on the road.

Between two traffic signals. Section 28-793(C) of the Arizona Revised Statutes says:

“Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.”

So on a block with working lights at both ends, crossing mid-block is not allowed, under section 28-793(C) of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Where only one end has a signal, or neither does, that rule does not apply.

What yielding means. Under section 28-793(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, when you cross outside a crosswalk the vehicles have the right of way, not you. Crossing there is allowed, but you wait for a gap in traffic rather than expecting cars to stop.

Tunnels and bridges. Under section 28-793(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, if a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing has been provided, a person who crosses the road there anyway must yield to all vehicles.

Signals at intersections. Under section 28-791(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, pedestrians must follow traffic control signals at intersections as section 28-645 provides. This page does not describe section 28-645.

What changes the answer

Your city. Under section 28-791(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a city or county may pass an ordinance requiring pedestrians to obey signals strictly. It may also ban crossing outside a crosswalk in a business district, or on a designated highway. Phoenix and other cities have their own codes, which this page does not cover.

In a crosswalk. Under section 28-792(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, where there are no working signals, a driver must slow down or stop to let a pedestrian cross within a crosswalk on the driver’s half of the road, or close to it.

Only where signals are off. Under section 28-792(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the driver’s duty to yield at a crosswalk applies when traffic signals are not in place or not working. Where the signals work, drivers and pedestrians follow the signals, under section 28-791(A).

Stepping out suddenly. Section 28-792(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes also says:

“A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave any curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.”

Passing a stopped car. Under section 28-792(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, when a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk to let someone cross, a driver coming from behind may not pass it.

Drivers still owe care. Under section 28-794 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, every driver must take due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian on any road, sound the horn when needed, and take extra care around a child or a confused or incapacitated person. That applies even when the pedestrian is crossing where they should not.

Drivers near schools. Under section 28-701(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a driver going faster than 15 miles per hour while approaching a school crossing is presumed to be going too fast. Under section 28-701.02 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, going over 35 miles per hour there is criminal speeding.

The penalty. Under section 28-121(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, breaking these rules, which sit in chapter 3 of Title 28, is a civil traffic violation, not a crime. Under section 28-1598 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the civil penalty is up to $250, plus court surcharges.