ASK A COP: Reader asks: Is jaywalking still illegal?

Published 7:03 pm Monday, March 25, 2019

Reader asks: Is jaywalking still illegal?

Jack from Groves asks: Officer Antoine, when I was growing up in Port Arthur we used to always use the term “jaywalking,” which means when someone walking is crossing the roadway in the middle of the block. Officer Antoine, is jaywalking still illegal today, because I see so many people crossing the roadway in the middle of the block? I was just wondering if the law against crossing the road in such a manner (jaywalking) is still illegal.

Answer: Good question, Jack! You have touched a subject that affects all of us, even if you don’t drive. At some point daily, we are all pedestrians. With the multitude of distractions happening in the driver’s seat, collisions between vehicles and pedestrians only rise. The Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center stated in 2014 there were 65,000 reports of pedestrian injures. That’s one injury every eight minutes! That same year nearly 5,000 people were killed in pedestrian accidents. Did you know Texas is the 10th most dangerous state for pedestrians in the United States? The Texas Department of Transportation estimates close to 500 fatal pedestrian crashes happen every year in Texas. To answer whether jaywalking is still illegal in Texas, yes, Jack, jaywalking is still illegal and in my opinion will always be illegal in Texas! Pedestrians have laws that protect them while on the roads, but should also go above and beyond measures to ensure their safety while walking on roadways and in parking lots. I’ve witnessed too many pedestrians walk with oncoming traffic on the roads, as though they have bumpers installed on their bodies. Most drivers take extra precautions when it pertains to pedestrians, even if the pedestrian is at fault crossing the road. Think about what happens when one vehicle damages another vehicle in a collision, so you can imagine what happens to a human body vs. a vehicle. Cross the roads only at designated areas!

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Carolina from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, I’m having a discussion with my sister about lights on a vehicle. What does the law in Texas state about lights being out on your car, and you are not aware the headlight is out? Can you get a ticket if you did not know a headlight is out in your car?

Answer: Good question, Carolina! The Texas Transportation Code is unlike any of the other codes that govern the state of Texas. With the Texas Transportation Code, there’s no culpable mental state the officer has to prove the accused to be intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or was criminally negligent. With the Transportation Code in Texas, all the officers have to prove is that you did it, not that you meant to do the offense. So with that said, Carolina, yes, you can legally be stopped and issued a citation by a police officer if you have a headlamp, or any required light that is out on your vehicle without your knowledge. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure all inspected items are functioning correctly on said vehicle.

Dean from Jasper: Thanks, Officer Antoine, for such informative driving tips. I liked your information about the red and blue handicap parking placards. I’ve always seen the two, but had no idea why the different colors. My Grandpa passed away a couple months ago and he has a blue placard that he just threw on the dashboard of his truck, and that’s where it remains even today. Is this legal? What should we do with his placard?

Answer: Good question, Dean! So sorry to hear your Grandpa passed, but there’s one thing for certain in life, and that’s death. This is something many people encounter, a loved one passing away who was issued a disabled parking placard by the state of Texas. First off, one thing you definitely don’t do is continue to use the placard. Any family member that has experienced the passing of a loved one who has a placard should return the placard to their respective county tax office. Do not continue to use the placard because you can receive a violation if found guilty for using a placard that wasn’t issued to you. This is punishable by fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, and between 10 and 50 hours of community service.

 

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live, on KSAP 96.9 FM, “The Breeze” radio station, every Tuesday from 1-2p.m. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released Ask A Cop article that printed in The News. You can also tune in via internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at 409-982-0247.

 

Remember to email your questions to Rickey.Antoine@portarthurtx.gov, or call 409-983-8673 and leave a message or voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 Fourth St., Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can Ask A Cop!