Costa Mesa, CA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 10-168
- Rule scope
- Signal-controlled intersections only
- Officer stop limit
- Only if immediate collision danger
- Related median ban
- § 10-169, misdemeanor
- Standard infraction fine
- Up to $100 first offense
Summary
Costa Mesa pedestrians must use a marked crosswalk between intersections controlled by a traffic signal or a police officer, under Municipal Code Section 10-168. Following a 2024 rewrite tracking the state's Freedom to Walk Act, an officer cannot stop a pedestrian for mid-block crossing unless a reasonably careful person would see an immediate danger of colliding with a moving vehicle.
(a) Between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk. (1) A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, shall not stop a pedestrian for a violation of subsection (a) unless a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle or other device moving exclusively by human power.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-168 sets the basic rule: between intersections controlled by a traffic signal or a police officer, a pedestrian must cross in a marked crosswalk rather than mid-block. The section was rewritten by Ordinance No. 2024-09 to track California's 2022 Freedom to Walk Act (AB 2147): subsection (a)(1) bars a peace officer from stopping a pedestrian for a Section 10-168(a) violation unless a reasonably careful person would recognize an immediate danger of colliding with a moving vehicle or a human-powered device such as a bicycle or scooter.
Subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3) preserve ordinary duties on both sides: crossing in a crosswalk does not excuse a pedestrian from using due care for their own safety, and it does not excuse a driver from watching for pedestrians in the roadway. The rule works with Section 10-167, which gives the transportation services manager authority to establish crosswalks wherever pedestrian hazard warrants one, but bars a mid-block crosswalk in any block shorter than 400 feet, and lets the manager post signs closing specific crosswalks to pedestrian use.
A related but separate prohibition sits in Section 10-169: standing, sitting or otherwise occupying a raised or painted center median, other than briefly while lawfully crossing, is a misdemeanor punishable under Section 1-33 and can also be treated as a public nuisance the city attorney may abate through an injunction. Together the sections focus enforcement on genuinely hazardous crossings and unauthorized median use rather than routine mid-block crossing on quiet residential streets.
Violations & Fines
Ordinary mid-block crossing outside a signal-controlled intersection is not enforced unless a reasonably careful officer would see immediate danger of a vehicle collision; when it is cited, it is an infraction under the general Section 1-33 schedule ($100 first offense, $200 second, $500 thereafter within a year). Standing or sitting on a center median is treated more seriously as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, and the city attorney can pursue civil abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police stop me for jaywalking in Costa Mesa?
Is it ever illegal to cross outside a crosswalk?
Can I stand on the median strip while waiting to cross?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Costa Mesa
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