Bill to allow jaywalking in Hawaiʻi makes progress in the House

State legislators are moving along a measure to ban police from enforcing current jaywalking laws.

Senate Bill 2630 would allow jaywalking unless “a reasonably careful pedestrian would determine that doing so would result in a collision with a moving vehicle or result in the moving vehicle slowing or stopping in any fashion.”

A recent report by the Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice argued that Hawaiʻi's jaywalking rules are enforced more strictly than other cities studied.

They state that stricter enforcement requires precious police resources and doesn’t actually improve road safety.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed argues that infrastructure changes are a more appropriate way to improve road and pedestrian safety.

The DOH agreed, saying, “The design of roads that integrate options like walking and bicycling is a public health concern since the built environment can promote or hinder physical activity. This includes removing barriers and providing opportunities to cross streets safely and conveniently to access destinations such as bus stops, schools, and worksites.”