Bozeman, MT Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Crossing route
- Right angles to the curb or shortest route
- Outside a crosswalk
- Pedestrian yields right-of-way to all vehicles
- Crosswalk required
- Parts I and II of business district, through and arterial streets
- Between signals
- Cross only in a crosswalk between signalized intersections
- Maximum penalty
- $100.00 fine, up to 30 days jail, or both (§ 36.02.030)
Summary
In the City of Bozeman, Montana, pedestrians must cross by the shortest route, must yield to vehicles when crossing outside a crosswalk, and cannot cross outside a crosswalk in Parts I and II of the business district or on any through or arterial street or avenue. The penalty is a fine up to $100.00.
A.Shortest route required. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb, except in a crosswalk.B.Yielding right-of-way required when.1.Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.2.The rules in subsection B.1 of this section have no application under the conditions stated in subsection C of this section when pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at certain designated places.C.Locations where prohibited.1.Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk.2.No pedestrians shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in Parts I and II of the business district, or on any through or arterial street or avenue.
Full Breakdown
Bozeman Municipal Code § 36.11.030 is the city's crossing rule for pedestrians. Subsection A requires that no pedestrian cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb, except in a crosswalk. Subsection B.1 then says every pedestrian crossing at any point other than within a marked crosswalk, or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, yields the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
Subsection C turns yielding into an outright ban in certain places. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation, pedestrians cannot cross at any place except in a crosswalk. No pedestrian can cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in Parts I and II of the business district, or on any through or arterial street or avenue. Where those bans apply, the yielding rule in B.1 does not, because subsection B.2 states that B.1 has no application when pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at designated places.
The article balances the duty on pedestrians against duties on drivers. Under § 36.11.020, when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, a driver yields to a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk on the driver's half of the roadway or approaching so closely from the other half as to be in danger, but no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle so close that the driver cannot yield. A vehicle stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection cannot be overtaken and passed from the rear. Section 36.11.050 still requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, to sound the horn when necessary, and to take proper precaution around any child or any confused or incapacitated person. Section 36.11.040 adds that where sidewalks are provided, walking along an adjacent roadway is unlawful, and no person can stand in a roadway to solicit a ride.
Violations & Fines
Article 11 prints no penalty of its own, so the chapter-wide penalty in § 36.02.030 governs: upon conviction, a fine not exceeding $100.00, imprisonment in the city jail not exceeding 30 days, or both. Violations are handled through the Bozeman Municipal Court, and the fine ceiling is the same whether the pedestrian crossed mid-block on an arterial street or in the business district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in Bozeman?
What is the penalty for jaywalking in Bozeman?
Do Bozeman drivers have to stop for pedestrians?
Can I walk along the road in Bozeman?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bozeman
Compare Bozeman to another location·View the Montana public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.