Alexandria, VA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)

Under Title 10, Chapter 5 of the Alexandria City Code, pedestrians must obey the traffic signs, signals and police directions that govern city streets. Section 10-5-4, "Obedience to traffic signs," makes it a violation for any pedestrian to disregard signs or signals erected on the streets, or to ignore a police officer directing travel and traffic; the penalty is a fine of not more than $5 for each separate offense.

Section 10-5-5 spells out what pedestrians may and may not do at intersections equipped with "Walk," "Wait" or "Don't Walk" signals. A pedestrian facing a "Walk" signal may cross in the signal's direction and has the right-of-way over all vehicles except authorized emergency vehicles. Once the signal changes to "Wait" or "Don't Walk," no pedestrian may start crossing the roadway in that direction, though anyone who is already partway across on a "Walk" signal may finish crossing to a sidewalk or safety zone. Starting a new crossing after "Wait" or "Don't Walk" appears is what the Alexandria Police Department treats as a signal violation; conviction under § 10-5-5 also carries a fine of not more than $5.

Both sections trace to the 1963 Code, §§ 22-165 and 22-166, and remain unchanged in substance today. Because the fines are fixed in the ordinance rather than tied to the state's uniform traffic fine schedule, a violation is a summons returnable to the Alexandria General District Court rather than a prepayable parking-style ticket, and it is treated as a minor infraction rather than a criminal offense.