'Jaywalking' law change for New York

In most American states, including New York, ‘Jaywalking’ has been illegal since 1958. The term is used to cover when a pedestrian walks over a street, or into a roadway, that breaks traffic laws, and previously carried a fine of up to $250. The road laws breached included crossing away from a crosswalk, against a red light and not yielding to oncoming traffic. 

The City Council has now changed this law with a bill that allows pedestrians to cross the street at any time without adhering to traffic signals. The new law does, however, warn that pedestrians crossing in such a way still do not have the right of way, and should act accordingly to the traffic that does have the right of way.