Lafayette, LA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City-Parish Code § 86-67
- Crossing rule
- Right angles or shortest route to curb
- Crosswalk exception
- Marked crosswalk/signal controls instead
- Maximum fine
- $500.00 under general penalty § 1-9(c)
- Maximum jail term
- Six months under § 1-9(c)
Summary
Lafayette City-Parish Code § 86-67 requires a pedestrian to cross at a crosswalk when one exists; away from a crosswalk, the pedestrian must cross at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb. There's no dedicated fine, so violators face the Code's general penalty of up to $500 or six months in jail.
Sec. 86-67. - Crossing at right angles. Except where otherwise indicated by a crosswalk or other official traffic-control device, a pedestrian shall cross a roadway at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb. (Ord. No. O-025-2006, § 1, 3-7-06) ... Sec. 1-9(c): a person convicted of a violation of this Code shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
or shortest route' language keeps foot traffic on the shortest, most predictable path across moving vehicles rather than banning mid-block crossing outright. Where a marked crosswalk or a traffic-control device such as a signal or sign governs the location, section 86-67 yields to that device and pedestrians must use it instead. The section sits among other 'Rules for Drivers' provisions, the U-turn ban in section 86-66 and the boarding/alighting rule in section 86-68, underscoring it is a citywide traffic-safety measure enforced by the Lafayette Police Department.
Violations & Fines
A pedestrian who crosses diagonally, or otherwise not at right angles or by the shortest route, away from a marked crosswalk or traffic-control device violates § 86-67. Because the section has no dedicated fine schedule, it is punished under the Code's general penalty, section 1-9(c): up to a $500.00 fine, up to six months' imprisonment, or both, with continuing violations chargeable as separate offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in Lafayette?
What's the fine for violating the pedestrian crossing rule?
Does the right-angle rule apply if there's a crosswalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lafayette
Compare Lafayette to another location·View the Louisiana public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.