Is it true that even if you purposefully hit a jaywalker, you won't be charged?

Question

well mr. smart elec... pedestrians have the right of way on the pedestrian walks near traffic lights and stuff... they dont have the right of way in the middle of the road... a police officer told me that when i was jaywalking...

Answer 1

Of course that can't be true. If you think about it, that would mean that it's ok to purposely hurt or kill people if they are breaking the law. You're not saying it's an accident - you said on purpose - that means you would point and aim at someone in the street??

Maybe if a burgler breaks and enters into your home and pulls a knife on you, you'd be justified in shooting him. However, some poor dude darting across the street to Starbucks instead of crossing at the light - well that's hardly in the same category.

Otherwise, we'd all wait until our ex-boyfriends or mother-in-laws were crossing the street and barrel out of nowhere and mow them down. Well...er...some of us would at least.

Answer 2

No it's not true. You will be charged because if you PURPOSEFULLY hit a jaywalker, it will be one or more of a few charges according to the outcome.
They are:
1. Assualt with a deadly weapon (Yes a car is considered a deadly weapon)
2. Murder in the 1st, or 2nd
3. Manslaughter
4. Attempted murder.
5. Assualt with intent to kill

Even if the pedestrians don't have right of way anything you do purposefully to a pedestrian wil get you charged with a crime.

Answer 3

No major comment but its true that pedestrians only have the right away in crosswalks or locations that a cross walk should be. If you intentionally hit somebody you are going to jail. But an accident is an accident.
So lets end the myth, a pedestrian always has the right away, is Not true!

Answer 4

I wouldn't want to test out the cops idea just to see if it works. A car is like a gun if you point it at a person and drive, it is like aiming a gun at them and pulling the trigger. Look at it this way, when you are in a car you have a horn, a steering wheel, brakes and gas to get out of a situation. Hitting a pedestrian is going to give you alot of trouble no matter how you look at it. Turn the wheel, beep the horn, throw on the brake, speed in the other direction but do not hit the pedestrian. Some court cases are costly and go on for years, you don't need the hassel.

Answer 5

Your question is not much related to the paragraph you added beneath. It would help if you connected the dots a little more to show the relationship between the officer's comments and implied approval to hit a jaywalker. That will help get everyone give you a better answer.

Answer 6

Funny. My sister is an officer, and she said that pedestrians always have the right of way. Hitting one is serious business, even if they aren't in a cross walk.

She said that the only thing is that safety is as guaranteed outside of a cross walk.

Answer 7

In los angeles you are at fauly for hitting ajaywalker. A jaywalker always has the right of way even if they are breaking the law.

Answer 8

In MA the pedestrian always has the right of way.
So you would be charged

Answer 9

It doesn't matter what the victim is doing or what state you are in. If you intentionally hit a person, you will be charged. On the otherhand, if you hit someone accidentally, you will probably not be charged if they are jaywalking. In order to avoid criminal charges, you have to try to avoid hitting the person.

Answer 10

Pedestrians always have the right of way