BOSTON – New York City is officially legalize jaywalking starting next year. And when WBZ-TV asked Boston residents if their city should follow suit, most didn’t even know they were breaking the law.

“A lot of people go there.”

“I think almost everyone kind of walks,” Grace Karol said.

“I feel like I see a lot of people getting started,” Ivy Jin said.

Jaywalking and Boston go hand in hand, or maybe foot in foot. In a fast-paced city, who really has time to stand on the corner and wait?

“I seem to see that at most intersections, people know the lights, or sometimes they don’t know the lights,” Cody Troutman said. “They’re trying to time it, they’re definitely jumping and crossing as soon as they can.”

New York lawmakers made the change after a study found that 90 percent of jaywalking tickets were given to people of color.

Is jaywalking illegal in Boston?

In Boston, you can technically receive a citation for jaywalking. Massachusetts law only provides a fine of $1 for the first three offenses and $2 for each subsequent offense. There have been unsuccessful attempts at Beacon Hill to intensify sanctions against jaywalkersespecially if they are distracted by their phone.

“I didn’t know it was illegal,” Jin said. “I feel like people do it so much.”

Troutman said he has never seen anyone get a ticket for jaywalking in Boston.

“I’ve never seen a citation,” he said. “Lots of honking from cars and yelling from others, but never a citation.”

WBZ-TV contacted the Boston Police Department to find out how many tickets they handed out last year, but they said they don’t track them.

Meanwhile, whether or not to wait for the “Walk” sign doesn’t really seem to be a question in Boston.

“I’m not going to stand in front of a car,” John Mark said. “But cars don’t own the streets, we own the streets.”