Just to make this clear, even though our Saint Paul pedestrian safety
demonstrations were postponed. The pedestrian doe not always have the right
of way at EVERY crosswalk, just where there are not traffic-control signals.
1998 Minnesota Statutes
Section 169.21 Pedestrian
Subdivision 1. Obey traffic-control signals.
Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic-control signals at intersections as
heretofore declared in this chapter, but at all other places pedestrians shall
be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in
this section and section and 169.22.
Subdivision 2. Rights in absence of signal.
(a) Where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver
of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the
roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any crosswalk at an intersection but
no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or
run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the
driver to yield. This provision shall not apply under the conditions as
otherwise provided in this subdivision.
(b) When any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked
crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the
driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and
pass the stopped vehicle.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle through a column of
school children crossing a street or highway or past a member of a school safety
patrol or adult crossing guard, while the member of the school safety patrol or
adult crossing guard is directing the movement of children across a street or
highway and while the school safety patrol member or adult crossing guard is
holding an official signal in the stop position. A peace officer may arrest
the driver of a motor vehicle if the peace officer has probable cause to believe
that the driver has operated the vehicle in violation of this paragraph within
the past four hours.
(d) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of
not more than $700, or both. A person who violates this subdivision a second or
subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under this subdivision
is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not
more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
Subdivision 3. Crossing between intersections.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway 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 roadway. Any pedestrian crossing a
roadway 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 roadway.
Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation
pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section every driver of a vehicle
shall:
(a) exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicycle or pedestrian upon any
roadway and
(b) give an audible signal when necessary and exercise proper precaution upon
observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person upon a
roadway
Bruce Gaarder
Highland Park Saint Paul
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Chris Allison wrote:
> I would like to make just a few quick clarifying points:
> #1) You are right that it is illegal, and you can be ticketed for crossing
> at a red light (jaywalking). You are wrong about the right of
> way....according to Mn statutes the pedestrian always has the right of way at
> all marked and unmarked intersections, even if they are jaywalking. I feel
> this is fair since the car is a hunk of speeding metal and the jaywalker is a
> soft, breakable human being.
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