Even though Los Angeles is on its way to becoming a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly city, there are still a few kinks to deal with. The latest concerns traffic-signalling countdown timers at crosswalks. 

In the state of California, it is illegal to cross the street as the crosswalk timer starts counting down, regardless of whether or not there’s still time to cross the street. Per Curbed LA, a new bill would update this jaywalking law to allow pedestrians to cross when the countdown timer is counting down, as long as they reach the other side before the signal changes. The bill has already passed through several legislative hoops, but still needs final approval from the governor.

Although many residents in walk-heavy neighborhoods such as West Hollywood, Culver City, and Downtown Los Angeles have largely ignored this law, officers can easily give a ticket of $197 for jaywalking. For many pedestrians living in the city, paying off a $200 ticket isn’t easy. According to KPCC and the LA Times, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) issued over 20,000 jaywalking tickets to DTLA and Century City pedestrians during its prime crackdown years between 2011 to 2015, raking in close to $4 million. This caused increased tension among locals, brought about lots of questions from LA’s City Council, and was even a subject of scrutiny on the New York Times.