South Bend, IN Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Where crossing is required
- Marked or unmarked crosswalk only
- Governing article
- Chapter 20, Article 6, Sec. 20-87
- Default penalty
- Up to $2,500.00 under Sec. 1-23
- Related driver duty
- No backing over a crosswalk (Sec. 20-82)
- Enforcing agency
- South Bend Police Department
Summary
South Bend requires pedestrians to cross streets and highways only at a marked or unmarked crosswalk under § 20-87, so crossing mid-block outside any crosswalk is a Chapter 20 violation. Related Article 6 rules also bar drivers from backing over a crosswalk under § 20-82 and require yielding when emerging from a driveway or alley under § 20-83.
No pedestrian shall cross any street or highway within the City, except at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. (Sec. 20-87) The commission of any of the acts described in this article shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be punishable as an offense as set forth in section 1-23 of this Code. (Sec. 20-59)
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
' Because an 'unmarked crosswalk' is the unpainted extension of a sidewalk across an intersecting street, the rule effectively requires pedestrians to cross at intersections, not mid-block, even where no crosswalk lines are painted on the pavement; crossing between intersections is what the ordinance treats as jaywalking. The rule traces back to § 25-86 of the 1962 Code and has not been renumbered since. Article 6 pairs this pedestrian duty with related driver obligations: § 20-62 bars a driver from entering an intersection or marked crosswalk without room to clear it, § 20-82 prohibits backing a vehicle into an intersection or over a crosswalk, and § 20-83 requires a driver emerging from an alley, driveway or building to stop before crossing a sidewalk and yield to approaching traffic once on the roadway.
00 for a violation, with each day of a continuing violation charged separately. The Police Department issues citations, and matters are resolved at the Ordinance Violations Bureau or St. Joseph County court.
Violations & Fines
Crossing a South Bend street outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk violates § 20-87 and, because the section carries no stated fine, is punishable under § 20-59's referral to the citywide general penalty in § 1-23: up to $2,500.00, with continuing violations charged per day. Citations are issued by the Police Department, and cases are handled at the Ordinance Violations Bureau or in St. Joseph County court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in South Bend?
Does South Bend's crosswalk rule apply even where there are no painted lines?
What's the fine for jaywalking in South Bend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Bend
Compare South Bend to another location·View the Indiana public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.