Grand Rapids, MI Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Crosswalk required
- Between signalized intersections. Sec. 10.124
- Mid-block crossing
- Allowed, but must yield right-of-way
- Governing law
- Chapter 10, Article 7 (Pedestrians)
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 90 days jail
- Enforced by
- Grand Rapids Police Department
Summary
Grand Rapids requires pedestrians to use a marked crosswalk between signalized intersections; crossing elsewhere means yielding the right-of-way to every oncoming vehicle under the city's traffic code.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all oncoming vehicles.(2)Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all oncoming vehicles.
Sec. 10.124. - Prohibited Crossings. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signs are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 10.124, pedestrians may not cross between adjacent signalized intersections except in a marked crosswalk. Outside that stretch, Sec. 10.123 lets a pedestrian cross mid-block but requires yielding the right-of-way to all oncoming vehicles, including at pedestrian tunnels or overhead crossings. The rule sits in Article 7 - Pedestrians of the traffic ordinance (Chapter 10), enforced citywide by the Grand Rapids Police Department. There's no exception for low-traffic streets or late-night crossings: the crosswalk requirement applies anywhere adjacent intersections have traffic control signals in operation.
Violations & Fines
General penalty under Sec. 1.13 applies: up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of violation, and each crossing, treated separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in Grand Rapids?
Can I cross mid-block if there's no traffic signal nearby?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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