Is Jaywalking Illegal in Tennessee? Crosswalk Rules and Penalty

Tennessee has no section called "jaywalking." Its crossing rule is Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-135: a 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," and between adjacent intersections where traffic-control signals are operating, a pedestrian may cross only in a marked crosswalk. Ordinary mid-block crossing is therefore a duty to yield, not a ban, unless a city has used its power under 55-8-133(b) to prohibit crossing in a business district or on designated highways except in a crosswalk. Section 55-8-135 sets no penalty of its own, so the default in 55-10-301(a) applies: a Class C misdemeanor, which carries up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $50, or both (40-35-111(e)(3)). 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 Tennessee state law: the pedestrian sections of Tenn. Code Ann. title 55, chapter 8 (55-8-133 to 55-8-139), the traffic-control signal sections 55-8-110 and 55-8-111, the crosswalk and pedestrian definitions in 55-8-101, the default penalty in 55-10-301, the Class C misdemeanor range in 40-35-111, and the citation and arrest rules in 55-10-207 and 40-7-118. It does not cover the text of any city or county ordinance, the amount of court costs, driver license consequences, injury claims after a crash, or the law of other states.

About the statute text: The sections quoted here are from the 2021 edition of the Tennessee Code Annotated. The public chapters enacted in the 2021 through 2026 sessions contain no amendment to the quoted provisions of 55-8-110(a)(1) to (4), 55-8-111, 55-8-133 to 55-8-138, 55-10-301(a) and (b)(1) or 40-35-111(e)(3); one 2025 public chapter (No. 531) is published only as a scanned image and is not covered by that statement. Changes in that period to nearby provisions: 2021 Public Chapter 220 (55-10-301(b)(1)(C), course providers), 2023 Public Chapter 388 (55-8-110(a)(8), yellow-light timing), 2025 Public Chapter 158 (55-8-139), 2025 Public Chapter 409 (40-7-103 and 40-7-118) and 2026 Public Chapter 993 (55-10-207(f)).

Is jaywalking illegal in Tennessee?

Crossing outside a crosswalk is not banned outright by state law, but the pedestrian must yield. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-135 provides:

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

Subsections (a) and (b) are yield rules. A pedestrian who crosses mid-block and lets every vehicle pass first meets them; so does one who crosses near a tunnel or footbridge without using it, as long as that pedestrian yields. Subsection (c) is a flat rule: on a stretch of road between two adjacent intersections that both have operating traffic-control signals, crossing anywhere but a marked crosswalk violates the statute, whether or not the pedestrian yields. Section 55-8-135 has three subsections, (a) to (c); none addresses diagonal crossing.

A separate rule applies everywhere, in or out of a crosswalk. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-134(b) provides: "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield."

What counts as a crosswalk in Tennessee

Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-101(16) provides that "crosswalk" means:

"(A) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or (B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface;"

Part (A) creates an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, drawn from the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway, with or without paint. Part (B) covers painted crossings, including mid-block ones ("at an intersection or elsewhere"). The difference matters under 55-8-135: subsection (a) treats a marked crosswalk and an unmarked intersection crosswalk alike, but subsection (c), on signal-controlled blocks, requires a marked crosswalk.

The same section defines "pedestrian" as "any person afoot or using a motorized or non-motorized wheelchair." Once in a crosswalk, "Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks" (55-8-137).

Traffic lights and Walk signals

Pedestrians follow traffic-control signals. Section 55-8-133(a) provides that "Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic-control signals at intersections as provided in 55-8-110." Under 55-8-110, for a pedestrian facing the signal:

• Green: "Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk."
• Steady yellow: "Pedestrians facing the signal are 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."
• Steady red: "No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless entry can be made safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic."
• Red with green arrow: "No pedestrian facing the signal shall enter the roadway unless entry can be made safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic" (55-8-110(a)(4)(B)).

The red-light rule is narrower than many people expect: as written, it bars entering on red unless the pedestrian can do so safely and without interfering with traffic. A city can tighten that, because 55-8-133(b) lets local authorities "require by ordinance that pedestrians strictly comply with the directions of any official traffic-control signal."

Where special pedestrian-control signals showing Walk, Wait or Don't Walk are in place, 55-8-111 provides that they "shall indicate as follows":

"(1) Walk. Pedestrians facing the signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; and (2) Wait or Don't Walk. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the wait signal is showing."

Unlike the red-light rule, the Don't Walk rule has no "if safe" exception: starting to cross on Wait or Don't Walk is prohibited. A pedestrian already partway across on Walk keeps going to a sidewalk or safety island.

City rules: business districts and designated highways

Section 55-8-133(b) is where Tennessee cities get their power to go beyond state law:

"(b) Local authorities are empowered to require by ordinance that pedestrians strictly comply with the directions of any official traffic-control signal and may by ordinance prohibit pedestrians from crossing any roadway in a business district or any designated highways except in a crosswalk."

So in a city that has adopted such an ordinance, crossing mid-block in a business district, or on a highway the city has designated, can be unlawful even when the pedestrian yields. Because the wording and penalty of each ordinance belong to the city, read your city's code or ask its police department or court clerk before relying on the state rule alone.

What drivers owe pedestrians

Drivers have their own duties in the same part of chapter 8. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-134(a) provides:

"(a)(1) Unless in a marked school zone when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, when traffic-control signals are not in place or not 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 a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. (2) When in a marked school zone when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver shall remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed the roadway on which the vehicle is stopped."

Subsection (c) provides that subsection (a) "does not apply under the conditions stated in 55-8-135(b)," that is, where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided.

The other driver duties:

• On a green signal, vehicular traffic, "including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited" (55-8-110(a)(1)(A)). A driver turning right or left on red must come to a full stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and cross traffic traveling in accordance with their traffic signal (55-8-110(a)(3)(A), (C)).

• "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 the stopped vehicle" (55-8-134(d)).

• A pedestrian on a Walk signal "shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles" (55-8-111(1)).

• Under 55-8-136(a), "Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway, and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary, and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway." A violation of 55-8-136 is a Class C misdemeanor (55-8-136(c)).

The due care rule applies "notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this chapter," so a driver owes it even where the pedestrian is the one who must yield.

Walking along the road

Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-138 governs walking along a road rather than crossing it:

"(a) Except as provided in this section, where sidewalks are provided, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or use a wheelchair along and upon an adjacent roadway. (b) Where sidewalks are not provided or are obstructed, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic that may approach from the opposite direction."

Subsection (d) provides: "A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor."

Jaywalking fine and penalty in Tennessee

Section 55-8-135 does not prescribe a penalty, and the pedestrian sections 55-8-133 to 55-8-139 set no pedestrian-specific fine. The default comes from Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-301(a):

"(a) Any person violating any of chapters 8 and 9 of this title and parts 1-5 of this chapter where a penalty is not specifically prescribed commits a Class C misdemeanor."

The Class C range is in 40-35-111(e)(3): "Class C misdemeanor, not greater than thirty (30) days or a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute." Those are ceilings, not a set fine. The statutes quoted here set no scheduled amount for a pedestrian citation; the citation or the court handling it shows what is actually owed.

Court costs are charged on top of any fine. Before the court date, a person cited may choose not to contest the charge and, with the approval of the court, "submit the fine and costs to the clerk of the court" instead of appearing (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-207(f)(1)). The clerk of the court named on the citation can give the amount.

A pedestrian violation of chapter 8 punishable as a misdemeanor is normally handled with a traffic citation "in lieu of arrest, continued custody and the taking of the arrested person before a magistrate" (55-10-207(b)(1)). That section does not supersede 40-7-118, and no citation may be issued if the person "cannot or will not offer satisfactory evidence of identification" or refuses to sign the citation (40-7-118(d)(3), (d)(6)). Knowingly giving a false or assumed name or address is a Class A misdemeanor (40-7-118(j)). Since July 1, 2025, 40-7-118(c)(3) also lets a peace officer arrest and take a person into custody when the officer has probable cause to believe the person committed an offense (2025 Public Chapter 409). Since July 1, 2025, an officer who has reasonable suspicion that a person has violated a state law or local ordinance may ask the person to identify themselves, and intentionally giving a false or fictitious name to an officer who has lawfully detained or arrested the person is a Class C misdemeanor; failing or being unable to produce a physical ID or driver license is not that offense (2025 Public Chapter 409, section 4).

A court may also order a driver education course. Under 55-10-301(b)(1), "Any person violating any of the provisions of chapters 8 and 9 of this title and parts 1-5 of this chapter may be required, at the discretion of the court, to attend a driver education course approved by the department of safety in addition to or in lieu of any portion of other penalty imposed."

If a pedestrian is hit by a car

Whether a pedestrian yielded under 55-8-135, and whether a driver met the duties in 55-8-134 and 55-8-136, can come up after a collision. For how fault and insurance claims work after a crash, see Tennessee car accident laws. Riders of electric scooters follow their own rules, covered in Tennessee e-scooter laws.

Related pages

• Jaywalking laws by state
• Tennessee car accident laws
• Tennessee e-scooter laws
• Kentucky jaywalking laws
• Georgia jaywalking laws

This article provides general legal information about Tennessee law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Tennessee or the court handling the citation.

Last updated: 2026-10-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is jaywalking illegal in Tennessee?

State law requires a pedestrian crossing outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk to yield to all vehicles, and bars crossing between adjacent signal-controlled intersections except in a marked crosswalk (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-135). Cities may also prohibit crossing in a business district or on designated highways except in a crosswalk (55-8-133(b)).

What is the fine for jaywalking in Tennessee?

Section 55-8-135 sets no penalty, so a violation is a Class C misdemeanor under 55-10-301(a), punishable by up to 30 days or a fine of up to $50, or both, unless otherwise provided by statute (40-35-111(e)(3)). Those are maximums; the citation or the court shows the amount actually owed. A person cited may, with the court's approval, pay the fine and costs to the court clerk instead of appearing (55-10-207(f)(1)).

Is jaywalking a misdemeanor in Tennessee?

Yes. Where chapter 8 prescribes no specific penalty, a violation is a Class C misdemeanor (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-301(a)). Walking along the roadway where a sidewalk is provided is a Class C misdemeanor under its own section (55-8-138(d)).

Can you cross on a red light in Tennessee if no cars are coming?

Under 55-8-110, a pedestrian facing a steady red may not enter the roadway unless entry can be made safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic. A city may require strict compliance with signals by ordinance (55-8-133(b)), and on a Wait or Don't Walk pedestrian signal no pedestrian may start to cross (55-8-111).

Can I cross the street between two traffic lights in Tennessee?

Only in a marked crosswalk. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-135(c)).

Do drivers have to stop for pedestrians in Tennessee crosswalks?

Where signals are not in place or not operating, a driver must yield, slowing down or stopping if need be, to a pedestrian in a crosswalk on the driver's half of the roadway or approaching closely from the other half (55-8-134(a)(1)). In a marked school zone with flashers operating, the driver must stop and stay stopped until the pedestrian has crossed (55-8-134(a)(2)).

Which side of the road should I walk on in Tennessee?

Where sidewalks are not provided or are obstructed, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder, facing traffic, when practicable (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-8-138(b)). Where a sidewalk is provided, walking on the adjacent roadway is unlawful (55-8-138(a)).