Leominster, MA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)

Section 13-98, part of Article VI's pedestrian control regulations, puts the burden squarely on the walker: every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. A marked crosswalk, under Section 13-94, is the area between two solid white or reflectorized pavement markings at least six feet apart, twelve inches wide in rural stretches and at least six inches wide in urban ones. Wherever the city has installed a pedestrian tunnel or overpass, Section 13-98 requires pedestrians to use it rather than cross the roadway at grade.

The rule works alongside Section 13-97, which bars a pedestrian from suddenly stepping off a sidewalk into a vehicle's path when the driver has no room to yield, requires use of the right half of a crosswalk, and makes it unlawful to walk along an adjacent roadway wherever a sidewalk is open for use. Article VI is enforced by all city officers under Section 13-101, and Section 13-103 directs the mayor's designee, the police chief and police officers to enforce it, authorizing either a criminal fine consistent with Chapter 13's penalty provisions or, as an alternative, a noncriminal citation processed under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 21D. Drivers keep an independent duty of care: Section 13-99 preserves Chapter 90, Sections 14 and 14A of the General Laws on protecting travelers and blind pedestrians, and requires every operator to sound a horn and exercise due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian, crosswalk or not.