Stop & Stay Stopped Law
New Jersey has high rates of pedestrian injuries and fatalities according to state police data. These rates are much higher than the national average and indicate the need to improve driving behavior and road design, and to protect vulnerable road users (people on foot, bicycle, scooter, in a wheelchair, or otherwise not in a car, bus, or truck).
New Jersey legislation passed in April 2010 requires motorists to stop and stay stopped for pedestrians (NJSA 39:4-36):
- Motorists must stop and remain stopped to allow pedestrians to cross the roadway within a marked crosswalk, when the pedestrian is upon, or within one lane of, the half of the roadway that the vehicle is traveling or turning.
- Motorists shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except when movement is being directed by police, traffic control signal or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county or State regulation and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing is provided.
- Every intersection without a marked crosswalk is considered an unmarked crosswalk.
Violating the law results in one or more of the following:
- 2 Points
- $200 Fine (plus court costs)
- 15 Days Community Service
- Insurance Surcharges
