Jaywalking refers to a pedestrian who enters a roadway (usually to cross to the other side) in a place where there is no marked crosswalk or unmarked (but legally recognized) crosswalk. Jaywalking can be dangerous because vehicles may not have an obligation to yield to pedestrians where there is no crosswalk.

White painted lines generally designate a marked crosswalk where drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians. Pedestrians may also have the right of way at stop sign intersections and alleyway entrances where a sidewalk is interrupted, for example—even if there are no painted lines or crosswalk markings.

Although jaywalking tickets or citations are usually not as significant as traffic violations, there may be a fine attached to a ticket or citation—especially if the pedestrian does not accept the police officer’s admonishment about the dangers of jaywalking.

In Montana, jaywalking is not specifically defined in state statutes, but relevant laws pertain to pedestrian conduct and the use of crosswalks. Under Montana law, pedestrians must use marked crosswalks when they are available, and at intersections with traffic control signals, they must obey the signals. Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or an intersection with a signal must yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway. This effectively means that jaywalking, or crossing outside of a designated crosswalk, is not permitted when it interferes with traffic. While Montana law does not have a specific statute for jaywalking, pedestrians may be cited under statutes that require them to follow traffic control devices or yield to vehicles when crossing outside of a crosswalk. Fines for these citations can vary, and while they may not be as significant as those for traffic violations, they are intended to promote pedestrian safety and adherence to traffic laws.