[derefr]

I'm guessing it's intended as a liability law, like jaywalking laws are. Nobody will ticket you for jaywalking; instead, it'll just serve as the defense of whoever ended up hitting you. "They just ran out onto the freeway right in front of me!"

[arrrg]

I was ticketed for jaywalking in Germany. It’s a €5 fine.

Police was hiding in an unmarked car, watching a traffic light in front of a supermarket with the singular purpose of catching jaywalkers. I was crossing the street (definitely not a busy one, more of an access road, mostly to just that supermarket and the old center of town, decidedly not exciting on a weekday at 10pm) while the light was red.

The officer was actually running (jogging, I guess) after me because I had my headphones on and didn't hear him asking me to stop. I thought it was quite ridiculous, but, if I'm honest to myself, this experience actually did make me think twice about jaywalking. I think I'm less likely to do it now.

The fine is not a big deal, though, it's basically the mildest possible punishment.

[anon4]

Crossing on red is not jaywalking as per the American definition. Jaywalking is crossing the street where there isn't a crosswalk or pedestrian traffic light.

[arrrg]

Americans introduced me to this concept using pedestrian traffic lights … so I'm not sure how universal your definition really is? (I know it just as any non-legal crossing of a street by pedestrians.)