Illegal 'J-Walking' has become a hotbed of racial discrimination
Pedestrians walking at intersections other than pedestrian crossings or ignoring traffic rules and crossing roads are called ' J-walking ' in English. J-walking is basically legal in European countries, but in the United States many states crack down on criminal activity and can be caught by police and fined. It has been pointed out that such J-walking is 'a hotbed of racial discrimination in the United States.'
Jaywalking decriminalization is coming, 100 years after the auto industry helped make it a crime --Virgin Mercury
The history of America, an automobile powerhouse, was in the fight against traffic accidents. By 1920, when automobiles began to spread throughout society, the death toll from traffic accidents in the United States had already exceeded 200,000.
In response to the frequent occurrence of traffic accidents, the automobile industry has launched a J-walking campaign stating that 'the cause of traffic accidents is not the driver of the car, but the pedestrian who tries to cross the road freely.' This made Jay Walking an illegal act cracked down by the police.
The illegal activity of J-Walk will increase the number of police crackdowns on pedestrians. In particular, African Americans are often dissatisfied with the fact that they are sometimes stopped by the police and asked about their duties just because 'blacks are walking'.
In fact, a 2019 New York Police Department survey found that 90% of citizens who issued tickets labeled 'Illegal / Dangerous Crossing' were black or Hispanic. I am.
In a Florida survey, 78% of black residents said they had been issued a ticket by the police saying 'walk on a sidewalk,' but for the entire population, the ticket was issued. It was said that 29% received the.
In the case of Arlington, Virginia, it turns out that about 65% of pedestrians who have been stopped by police were black, even though African Americans make up 10-12% of the city's population. I am.
Virginia's Congressman Patrick Hope submitted a bill at a special parliament in the fall of 2020 to legalize 'J-Walking.' If the bill is passed, pedestrians will no longer be arrested or fined by police for crossing the road, at least not in Virginia.
In Virginia, rising pedestrian road mortality is a problem, and some are worried that legalizing J-Walk may make pedestrians even more dangerous. I will. However, criminal justice reformers have complained that 'the legalization of J-Walking is an important step in reducing police dispute, especially for people of color.'
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