Milwaukee, WI Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Sign-designated crossing bans, not a blanket ban
- Who designates locations
- Commissioner of Public Works
- Fine range
- $2 to $50 forfeiture
- Jail alternative
- 1 to 10 days if forfeiture unpaid
Summary
Milwaukee posts signs banning pedestrian crossing at specific hazardous locations; crossing there draws a $2-$50 forfeiture.
Pedestrian crossings are prohibited at certain locations and the commissioner of public works shall install appropriate signs and, when deemed necessary, erect barricades to indicate that pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at the following locations: Specific locations are to be found in the common council proceedings; the official record on file in the city clerk's office; and the code on file in the legislative reference bureau.
-529-
10/11/2016
101-9.5 Traffic Code
2. PENALTY. Any pedestrian
violating this section shall upon conviction be
punished by a forfeiture of not less than $2 nor
more than $50, together with the cost of
prosecution, and in default thereof shall be
imprisoned in the house of correction or county
jail for not less than one day nor more than 10
days.
101-9.5. Designation of Locations Where
Loitering or Standing is Prohibited upon
Street Medians.
1. DEFINITION. In this section:
a. Median" means a paved or
unpaved area dividing a street or highway that
separates lanes of traffic traveling in opposite
directions.
b. "Safety zone" means the area or
space defined in s. 340.01(55), Wis. Stats.
2. LOITERING PROHIBITED. No
person shall stand, sit or stay upon any median
less than 5 feet wide, or any median in a
designated roadway or highway that is
considered a safety hazard for pedestrians. This
provision shall not apply to:
a.
Full Breakdown
The Milwaukee Code doesn't ban jaywalking city-wide by a blanket rule: instead the commissioner of public works designates specific locations as off-limits to pedestrian crossing, posting signs (and barricades where needed) at those spots. The designated locations are listed in the common council proceedings, the city clerk's official record, and the legislative reference bureau's code, rather than spelled out in the ordinance text itself. Crossing at a location signed as prohibited is a municipal violation. Separately, Ch. 101-7 lets the commissioner mark crosswalks at intersections and at non-intersection or diagonal locations where pedestrian danger is particular, and Ch. 101-8 lets the commissioner mark safety zones for pedestrians boarding transit.
Violations & Fines
Forfeiture of $2 to $50 plus court costs; nonpayment can mean up to 10 days in the house of correction or county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal everywhere in Milwaukee?
How do I know if a spot is a prohibited crossing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin public conduct overview
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Jaywalking in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle jaywalking.