Several new state laws went into effect Friday, including laws to help better protect pedestrians.

The first is the pedestrian law that expands the circumstances in which a driver must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks that are not controlled by traffic signals or police.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians who step to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and show they intend to cross by extending their hand or arm toward oncoming traffic.

Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians when required could be fined $500.

The dooring law prohibits a driver or passenger from opening a car door in a way that would hit or get in the way of a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Violations of the dooring law are infractions.

The state says the new laws are aimed at improving communication between drivers and pedestrians to make crossing the street safer for everyone.