Overview
- The policy took effect Jan. 16, allowing officers to issue citations on first contact for jaywalking or standing in medians without a prior warning.
- A December vote by the Phoenix City Council amended city code 36-128 to remove the mandatory warning requirement.
- Phoenix Police say officers may still choose warnings or education case by case, according to Lt. Seth Jahnke.
- Officials frame the enforcement shift as a roadway safety measure to reduce injuries in a city with high pedestrian fatality rates.
- The city plans a $5.6 million investment in 10 pedestrian‑activated crosswalks as advocates warn the policy burdens unsheltered residents.