In order to improve safety on our roads, the City of San Diego is educating San Diegans about a new state law that aims to protect people crossing the street. The so-called “daylighting” law prohibits vehicle parking within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk to improve the range of vision of approaching drivers, so they are more likely to see pedestrians, skateboarders and others in the intersection. 

The California state legislature passed this law (AB413) in September 2023, and it will be enforceable beginning Jan. 1, 2025. It is important to note that this law allows drivers to be ticketed for violating this rule, even if there is no signage or red curb in the area explaining where parking is prohibited. 

For the first 60 days after Jan. 1, 2025, San Diego Police will issue warning notices to vehicles parked in violation of the new law, and ticketing will commence after the warning period concludes. 

“This is an important step toward improving safety on our City streets,” said Transportation Department Director Bethany Bezak. “Working together, we can prevent needless crashes and save lives, simply by changing how and where we park our vehicles. This new law will bring us closer to our Vision Zero goals, and a future where everyone in San Diego may safely walk and ride.” 

Vision Zero, a concept adopted by many cities worldwide, aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries for all road users. 

Studies have shown that if drivers have greater visibility at crosswalks, crashes involving pedestrians can be more easily avoided. The law prohibits stopping or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. This applies across the state and every applicable intersection in the City of San Diego, whether in an urban or suburban area, residential and commercial neighborhoods alike. 

“San Diego’s neighborhoods will greatly benefit from the Daylighting to Save Lives Bill, as it removes obstacles around crosswalks, making it easier for everyone to walk to local shops, schools and parks,” said Jeremy Bloom, acting CEO of Circulate San Diego. “This law aligns with our city’s goals for connected, walkable communities.” 

Currently, jurisdictions can only issue a warning for a violation and are prohibited from issuing citations, unless the violation occurs in an area marked with red paint or a sign. 

However, on Jan. 1, 2025, jurisdictions will be authorized to begin issuing citations for stopping or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of any intersection where a person may cross the road – whether or not there is a marked crosswalk and regardless of whether the curb is painted red to indicate the no-parking area. 

Work has already begun at intersections in the City with high pedestrian and vehicular traffic, in the form of red curb paint and signage prohibiting parking. However, as a practical matter, not all City curbs will be able to be marked. 

The new restrictions also impacted 164 parking spaces with meters. Parking meters have already been removed from 97 spaces, mostly downtown. Another 67 meters were moved slightly so they would not fall inside the 20-foot restricted zone near intersections. 

Nationwide, 43 states already have daylighting laws, and most prohibit parking within 20 feet of an intersection. It is up to drivers in San Diego and throughout California to be aware of and comply with this law. Please spread the word -- together we can save lives. 

For more information, please view the City’s new daylighting webpage.