National City, CA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)

Chapter 11.44 of the Municipal Code is titled Pedestrians, and § 11.44.020 is the National City rule against crossing between crosswalks. It applies in two places: any business district, and any through street under the jurisdiction of the city of National City. The words marked or unmarked matter because § 11.44.010 defines a crosswalk by reference to CVC Section 275: the portion of a roadway included within the prolongation or connection of the boundary lines of sidewalks at intersections where the intersecting roadways meet at approximately right angles, except the prolongation of such lines from an alley across a street, or any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings. A corner without stripes can therefore still be a crosswalk.

Section 11.44.030 adds a path rule. No pedestrian can cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb, except in a marked crosswalk. Section 11.44.040 covers standing: no person can stand in any roadway other than in a safety zone or in a crosswalk if that action interferes with the lawful movement of traffic. The standing rule exempts any public officer or employee, and any employee of a public utility, when necessarily upon a street in the line of duty.

The City Engineer decides whether to establish a marked crosswalk and the level of protection or traffic control needed, based on traffic engineering guidelines, data collection and site evaluation of prevailing conditions.