Jaywalking is the act of pedestrians walking in or crossing a roadway if that act contravenes traffic regulations. It is defined as crossing a street outside of a crosswalk or designated area, or crossing against a red light or not yielding to oncoming traffic. Jaywalking was coined as the automobile arrived in the street in the context of the conflict between pedestrian and automobiles, more specifically the nascent automobile industry. When used in the technical sense, jaywalking specifically refers to the violation of pedestrian traffic regulations and laws and is therefore illegal. However, in many countries, such regulations do not exist and jaywalking is an unknown concept. The severity of a jaywalking offense varies amongst jurisdictions. It might be deemed a mere infraction in some areas but a misdemeanor in others. Some jaywalking offenses are accompanied by fines while others might carry additional citations if the conduct was particularly dangerous. In extreme cases, jaywalking offenses can include other citations like reckless endangerment or disorderly conduct when it creates a hazard.