[1stop]

I thought jay-walking was specifically crossing against the lights at a controlled intersection. If there are no lights (within ~20 metres) it isn't jay-walking...[0]

[0] I could be completely wrong, and given the international audience I am probable both right and wrong.

[kelseyfrancis]

As with most regulations like this, in the US it depends on the state. In Georgia, for example, you cannot cross the street outside of a crosswalk anywhere between two light-controlled intersections, but everywhere else is pretty much fine [1]. These laws have led me to act in such bizarre ways as crossing the street against the signal once all the traffic has passed but walking a couple feet outside of the crosswalk so that I'm not breaking the law.

[1] http://peds.org/issues/respect-pedestrians/pedestrian_right_...

[sp332]

I know a girl who found out that in her little town in Ohio, jaywalking isn't a crime at all. Now she just crosses wherever and whenever she wants!

[goatforce5]

http://spacing.ca/toronto/2007/11/20/pedestrians-crossing-mi...

In Toronto you can more or less cross where you want, as long as you're not interfering with lawful traffic. If you step in front of a car moving at the speed limit and get hit, it's your fault. If you make a car slow down even a little bit to avoid hitting you, you're at fault.

If there's a big enough gap that no cars have to slow down as you cross, you're good to go!