Santa Fe, NM Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 12-6-14.4
- Yield duty
- Pedestrian yields to all vehicles outside crosswalks
- Signalized blocks
- Crossing barred except at marked crosswalk
- Diagonal crossing
- Barred unless signals authorize it
- State law basis
- NMSA 1978 § 66-7-335
- Enforcing agency
- Santa Fe Police Department
Summary
Santa Fe requires pedestrians who cross outside a marked or intersection crosswalk to yield to all vehicles, and bars crossing anywhere but a marked crosswalk between two signalized intersections, under City Code Section 12-6-14.4. Diagonal crossing at intersections is also barred unless a traffic-control device authorizes it.
A.Every pedestrian crossing a street at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the street.B.Any pedestrian crossing a street at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the street.C.Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk. (66-7-335 NMSA 1978)D.No pedestrian shall cross a street intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.
Full Breakdown
4, 'Crossing at Other Than Crosswalks,' places the right-of-way burden on the pedestrian, not the driver, whenever someone crosses outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection: Subsection A requires that pedestrian to yield to every vehicle on the street, and Subsection B extends the same yield duty to anyone crossing near a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing instead of using it. Subsection C goes further between two intersections that both have working traffic-control signals: pedestrians may not cross anywhere except in a marked crosswalk, the closest the code comes to an outright mid-block crossing ban, and it traces directly to the state Motor Vehicle Code at NMSA 1978 Section 66-7-335.
Subsection D separately bars crossing an intersection diagonally unless official traffic-control devices authorize it, and even then only in the manner the devices direct. 8 requiring drivers to sound a horn and take precautions around children or incapacitated persons. 4 is enforced the same way by the Santa Fe Police Department under the Uniform Traffic Ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Crossing outside a marked or intersection crosswalk without yielding to traffic, crossing mid-block between two signalized intersections, or crossing an intersection diagonally without authorization are each citable under Section 12-6-14.4. Pedestrian violations in this article are enforced by the Santa Fe Police Department as traffic citations, and companion Sections 12-6-14.2 and 12-6-14.3 classify related crosswalk violations as penalty assessment misdemeanors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in Santa Fe?
Can I cross a Santa Fe intersection diagonally?
Who has the right of way if I cross mid-block in Santa Fe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Fe
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