Promote safety, sound budgeting and equity through jaywalking reform

A recent analysis of judiciary data by the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice found that from 2018 to 2023, Hawaiʻi had one of of the highest per capita rates of issuing jaywalking citations, levying more than $3.8 million in jaywalking fines and fees.

Nevertheless, despite the state’s heavy-handed enforcement of jaywalking laws, Hawaiʻi ranks as the second-most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians. 

According to a study by the World Health Organization cited by Bloomberg, the UK has about half as many pedestrian deaths per capita as the U.S., despite allowing pedestrians to cross where they please. And in Norway, the world leader in eliminating [pedestrian] traffic deaths, again “there is no rule against jaywalking.” 

In terms of generating revenues, the Hawaiʻi Appleseed report found that Hawaiʻi’s jaywalking laws are actually a money-losing proposition—with arguably no positive results to show for it.

Of the $3.8 million in fines and fees levied from 2018 to 2023, only $854,947—about 22.4 percent—was collected. In addition, the cost of jaywalking enforcement during that period was more than $1.8 million, leaving the net cost of jaywalking enforcement at approximately $955,000—almost $1 million.