CVC 21950(a)Eligible for written declaration

Failure to Yield to Pedestrian

Not yielding to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $234DMV Points: 1🏫 Traffic school may be available

Insurance: insurers must weigh your driving safety record first (Insurance Code 1861.02(a)), and more than one violation point counted under Vehicle Code 12810(a) to (d), (f), (i)(1) or (j) in the previous three years ends Good Driver Discount eligibility (Insurance Code 1861.025(b)(1)).

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a Failure to Yield to Pedestrian ticket?

CVC 21950(a) says the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in that chapter. Under 21950(b), no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Under 21950(c), a driver approaching a pedestrian within a marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and reduce speed or take any other action necessary to safeguard the pedestrian. Under 21950(d), subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of the duty of exercising due care for a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Ask your insurer how a conviction affects your policy.

What the Law Says

(a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

What the Officer Must Prove

1You were driving a vehicle
2A pedestrian was crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk, or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection
3You did not yield the right-of-way to that pedestrian

Arguments Commonly Raised for Failure to Yield to Pedestrian

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Not yet crossing within the crosswalk

CVC 21950(a) applies to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk, or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Describe where the pedestrian was when you reached the crosswalk.

Pedestrian stepped out suddenly

CVC 21950(b) says no pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. Subdivision (d) says this does not relieve the driver of the duty of due care. Describe what the pedestrian did and what you did.

You yielded

If you yielded, describe how, including your speed and where you stopped.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Leaving out where the pedestrian was when you reached the crosswalk
✗Not photographing the crosswalk and your approach

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 21950(a) — Failure to Yield to Pedestrian. Not yielding to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 21950(a). It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions About Failure to Yield to Pedestrian

What does a driver have to do at a crosswalk?▼

CVC 21950(a) says the driver shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and 21950(c) says a driver approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk shall exercise all due care and reduce speed or take any other action necessary to safeguard the pedestrian.

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Traffic School Option

A conviction adds 1 DMV point. The court may let you complete traffic school. If it is the only ticket you have done traffic school for in 18 months, the record is kept confidential and no point is counted (Vehicle Code 1808.7(a)). Traffic school is not available for a violation in a commercial motor vehicle (Vehicle Code 42005(c)(1)). If you hold a commercial driver license, the record is not kept confidential (Vehicle Code 1808.7(b)). Check your notice or your court's website for your options.

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