2 ms·

Jaywalking is typically (i.e. I know of now jurisdiction in the west where it's not) a civil infraction. Though if the cops want to be dicks they can pretend n

Jaywalking is typically (i.e. I know of now jurisdiction in the west where it's not) a civil infraction. Though if the cops want to be dicks they can pretend not to know and arrest you but they can do that with any law or they can get you for a nebulous contempt of cop offense but they can do that anytime. It's on-par with a parking ticket, littering or not removing your trash bin from the street after trash day. If you don't pay the fine (and don't show up in court to tell them why you can't afford it) that's the criminal infraction and that's when they put a warrant out.

OJFord 5y ago
> Jaywalking is typically (i.e. I know of now jurisdiction in the west where it's not) In the UK it doesn't even exist. We look it up after hearing the word on N American 'movies'/TV 'shows'. > a civil infraction IANAL, but my understanding is that the key difference between criminal & civil law is that the latter always has a (an alleged) victim, and it is he who is the claimant. Is that wrong? Or right but there's some supposed victim of 'jaywalking' (the state on behalf of drivers?!) who goes around suing 'jaywalkers'?