Are jaywalking tickets in Hawaiʻi doing more harm than good? A new report breaks it down

Abbey Seitz, director of transportation equity at Hawaiʻi Appleseed said the approach to minor offenses is expensive and ineffective at improving roadway safety. “This approach can lead to cycles of debt, damaging court records and, in some cases, violent interactions with police, arrests and even incarceration,” she said.

A new report from Hawaiʻi Appleseed, “Beyond the Ticket: Recommendations for a More Equitable Traffic Enforcement System,” argues that ticketing for jaywalking and other minor infractions doesn’t actually make streets safer. The report claims it shifts focus and resources away from more effective solutions, like better street design.