Merced pedestrians who don’t cross the road in a crosswalk, commonly called jaywalking, can now face potential citations under a new city ordinance.

Merced police officers can cite pedestrians only when there is imminent danger of collision with a vehicle, according to city attorney Craig Cornwell. The city cannot regulate pedestrians who walk outside of a roadway and do not pose any danger, the ordinance states.

“(It will) help the public understand that they’re still undertaking a potentially dangerous activity,” Cornwell said.

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Merced City Council amended the Merced Municipal Code for pedestrian crossings during Tuesday’s meeting in an effort to prevent pedestrian deaths. The change will go into effect 30 days from Tuesday. The amendment first was introduced during a council meeting on Jan. 5.

Merced’s amended ordinance is intended to align municipal code with state laws, Merced Police Chief Steven Stanfield said on Jan. 5. California State Assembly Bill 2147, passed in 2022, decriminalized crossing outside of a sidewalk when there is no immediate danger of a traffic collision.

The ordinance states that pedestrians “must use due care when crossing the roadway,” and must cross the roadway in a crosswalk in a business district and other districts where there are crosswalks.

“One of the things we hear about most up here is traffic safety,” Mayor Matthew Serratto said on Jan. 5. “Driving is the single most dangerous thing that all of us do every single day. It’s incumbent on both drivers and pedestrians to act in a very responsible manner.”

About the Reporter

Elizabeth Wilson is the public safety reporter for The Merced FOCUS.