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Through such messaging, authorities sought to shift blame entirely onto pedestrians, implying that their behavior was not only reckless but also morally wrong. Campaigns involved various societal sectors, including schools and organizations like the Boy Scouts, to spread this message further.
Cultural Shift: From Innocent Mistake to Crime
Over time, the narrative evolved. What initially was a campaign targeting naive or rural individuals had broader implications. The focus intensified on establishing the act of crossing outside designated areas as illegal—culminating in many states criminalizing jaywalking altogether. Laws were passed that penalized pedestrians for crossing streets outside crosswalks, effectively turning a social stigma into a legal offense.