Is Jaywalking Illegal in Mississippi? Crossing Rules and Fines (2026)

In Mississippi, what people call jaywalking is governed by Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1105. A pedestrian who crosses anywhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles, and between two adjacent intersections with traffic control signals in operation a pedestrian may cross only in a marked crosswalk. Section 63-3-1105 sets no penalty of its own; under the general penalty statute, § 63-9-11, a violation is a misdemeanor punished on a first conviction by a fine of not more than $100 or up to 10 days in jail. Cities may add traffic regulations that do not conflict with state law (§ 63-3-209). To compare other states, see our guide to jaywalking laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-10. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Mississippi state law: the pedestrian article of Title 63, Chapter 3 (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-3-1101 to 63-3-1113), the traffic signal section (§ 63-3-309), the crosswalk definition (§ 63-3-127), the local-authority sections (§§ 63-3-209 and 63-3-211), and the general penalty section (§ 63-9-11). It does not cover the text of any city or county ordinance, local court fine amounts, rules on walking along a road or on interstate highways, injury claims after a crash, or the law of other states.

Is jaywalking illegal in Mississippi?

It depends on where and how you cross. Mississippi's pedestrian article mostly sets a duty to yield: crossing outside a crosswalk is allowed under state law, but traffic goes first, and a city may add non-conflicting rules (§ 63-3-209). One rule is a flat restriction that applies even when the road is empty: crossing mid-block between two signalized intersections anywhere other than a marked crosswalk.

Crossing outside a crosswalk

The basic rule is § 63-3-1105(1):

"(1) 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."

This is a duty to yield, not a ban. A pedestrian who crosses mid-block, waits for a gap, and lets vehicles pass first complies with subsection (1), subject to the signalized-block rule below and any valid local regulation. The violation under subsection (1) is failing to yield.

Subsection (2) applies the same yield duty at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided: "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." Section 63-3-1105 has three subsections, and none of them addresses crossing an intersection diagonally.

Subsection (1) treats an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection the same as a painted one. Mississippi defines the term in § 63-3-127:

"'Crosswalk' means that portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, or any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface."

The first half of the definition is tied to the lines of sidewalks at intersections; the second half covers any marked crossing. An intersection with sidewalks can therefore have a legal crosswalk with no paint on the road. Once in a crosswalk, § 63-3-1107 adds: "Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks."

Crossing between signalized intersections

Subsection (3) of § 63-3-1105 is the closest Mississippi comes to a mid-block ban:

"(3) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk."

It applies only on a stretch of road between two adjacent intersections where traffic control signals are operating. On that stretch, yielding to traffic is not enough: the crossing must be in a marked crosswalk. On a block without operating signals at both ends, subsection (1)'s yield rule governs instead.

Traffic lights and pedestrians

Section 63-3-1101 ties pedestrians to the signal rules: "Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic control signals at intersections as heretofore declared in this chapter. At all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this article."

The signal section, § 63-3-309, sets out what the green, yellow and red lights mean for pedestrians:

• Green: "Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk" (§ 63-3-309(1)(b)).
• Steady yellow: "Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles" (§ 63-3-309(2)(b)).
• Steady red: "No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic" (§ 63-3-309(3)(d)).
• Red with green arrow: the same words apply to a pedestrian facing that signal (§ 63-3-309(4)(b)).

The red-light rule is worded as a conditional bar rather than an absolute one: entering the roadway on red is barred unless it can be done safely and without interfering with traffic. Section 63-3-309 is the colored-light section; this page does not quote a separate Mississippi rule for WALK and DON'T WALK signal heads.

What drivers owe pedestrians

A pedestrian's duty to yield outside a crosswalk sits alongside duties the same article places on drivers. Where there are no working signals, § 63-3-1103 provides:

"Where traffic control signals are not in place or in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this article."

The wording is a duty to yield, slowing down or stopping if need be; it is not a rule that the driver must stop and remain stopped. The other driver duties:

• "Whenever 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 such stopped vehicle" (§ 63-3-1103).
• Every driver "shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any person propelling a human-powered vehicle and shall give an audible signal when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person." That duty applies "Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter or the provisions of any local ordinance" (§ 63-3-1112).
• On a green light, vehicular traffic may proceed or turn, but "shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited" (§ 63-3-309(1)(a)).
• Under § 63-3-309, vehicular traffic making a turn permitted on a red signal "shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other vehicular traffic lawfully using the intersection."
• For a blind pedestrian crossing at an intersection or crosswalk, § 63-3-1111 requires the driver of every approaching vehicle to "take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring or endangering such pedestrian," and to come to a full stop if that is the only way to avoid it. A violation of § 63-3-1111 carries its own penalty: a fine of not more than $25 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 10 days (§ 63-3-1111(4)).

Jaywalking fine and penalty in Mississippi

Section 63-3-1105 states no penalty of its own. The penalty comes from § 63-9-11, which makes it a misdemeanor "for any person to violate any of the provisions of Chapter 3, 5 or 7 of this title, unless such violation is by such chapters or other law of this state declared to be a felony." For violations with no other penalty provided, § 63-9-11(2) sets these maximums:

These are statutory ceilings, not a typical ticket amount; the citation or the court handling it shows the amount due. Court costs and assessments are owed on top of the fine: § 63-9-11(3) refers to "the applicable fine, costs and any assessments required by law to be paid upon conviction," and the course option described below adds a $10 fee. A ticket written under a city ordinance carries whatever penalty that ordinance and the court apply.

Section 63-9-11(3) also offers a traffic safety violator course for Chapter 3 misdemeanors. A person who meets all of the conditions in that subsection "shall be eligible to participate in not less than four (4) hours of a traffic safety violator course and thereby have no record of the violation on the person's driving record." The first listed condition is that "The defendant has a valid Mississippi driver's license or permit," and the course option does not apply to a violation committed by the holder of a commercial driver's license (§ 63-9-11(4)). Whether a particular pedestrian ticket qualifies is a question for the court handling it.

City rules

Mississippi lets local governments add rules but not contradict the state chapter. Section 63-3-209 provides that "no local authority shall enact or enforce any rule or regulation in conflict with the provisions of this chapter unless expressly authorized herein. Local authorities may, however, adopt additional traffic regulations which are not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter."

The list of specific local powers in § 63-3-211 does not itself name pedestrian crossing restrictions, so a city rule limiting where pedestrians may cross would rest on the general power in § 63-3-209 to adopt additional, non-conflicting regulations. Check your city or county code and posted signs before crossing mid-block downtown.

Checking the current text

The history notes on the main sections quoted here show § 63-3-1105 last amended in 1983 and the signal section, § 63-3-309, in 1987. Mississippi publishes its official code through a LexisNexis public-access portal, so check the current text there or with the clerk of the court on your citation before relying on exact wording.

If a pedestrian is hit by a car

Whether a pedestrian was crossing lawfully under § 63-3-1105 can come up after a collision, alongside the driver duties in §§ 63-3-1103 and 63-3-1112. For how fault and insurance work after a crash, see Mississippi car accident laws. Electric scooter riders follow a separate set of rules, covered in Mississippi e-scooter laws.

Related pages

• Jaywalking laws by state
• Mississippi car accident laws
• Mississippi e-scooter laws
• Louisiana jaywalking laws
• Alabama jaywalking laws

This article provides general legal information about Mississippi law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Mississippi.

Last updated: 2026-10-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is jaywalking illegal in Mississippi?

Crossing outside a crosswalk is allowed under state law if you yield the right-of-way to all vehicles (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1105(1)). Between adjacent intersections with traffic control signals in operation you may cross only in a marked crosswalk (§ 63-3-1105(3)), and a city may adopt additional traffic regulations that do not conflict with state law (§ 63-3-209).

What is the fine for jaywalking in Mississippi?

Section 63-3-1105 sets no penalty of its own, so the general penalty in § 63-9-11 applies: a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment for not more than 10 days for a first conviction. These are maximums; the court handling the citation sets the amount due, and court costs and any assessments required by law are owed in addition to the fine (§ 63-9-11(3)).

Is jaywalking a misdemeanor in Mississippi?

Yes. Miss. Code Ann. § 63-9-11(1) makes it a misdemeanor to violate any provision of Chapter 3 of Title 63, which includes the pedestrian rules in §§ 63-3-1101 to 63-3-1113.

Can you go to jail for jaywalking in Mississippi?

The general penalty statute allows it. Miss. Code Ann. § 63-9-11(2) authorizes imprisonment for not more than 10 days for a first conviction, not more than 20 days for a second within one year, and not more than six months for a third or later conviction within one year after the first.

Can I cross in the middle of the block in Mississippi?

Under state law, yes, if you yield the right-of-way to all vehicles (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1105(1)), unless the block lies between two adjacent intersections with traffic control signals in operation; there you may cross only in a marked crosswalk (§ 63-3-1105(3)). Check local rules too, because cities may adopt additional non-conflicting traffic regulations (§ 63-3-209).

Can I cross on a red light as a pedestrian in Mississippi?

A pedestrian facing a steady red signal may not enter the roadway unless he can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-309(3)(d)). A pedestrian who starts to cross on a steady yellow must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles (§ 63-3-309(2)(b)).

Do drivers have to stop for pedestrians in Mississippi?

Where traffic control signals are not in place or in operation, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, slowing down or stopping if need be (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1103). Every driver must also exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian (§ 63-3-1112).