San Franciscans should brace themselves for a new wave of parking enforcement as the SFMTA begins rolling out warnings on Nov. 11 in compliance with the statewide "Daylighting Law." The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced on social media that starting next week, vehicles parked within 20 feet of any crosswalk in the direction of approaching traffic will receive written warnings to comply with Assembly Bill 413.
The enforcement is a precursor to fines that will kick in on Jan. 1, 2025. According to a post by the SFMTA, parking violations in front of crosswalks will attract citations starting at $40 and can soar up to $108 if the curb is painted red. Motorists are advised to park at least 20 feet away from marked or unmarked crosswalks to avoid penalties. This means a typical car length distance for those wondering exactly how far back they need to park from an intersection.
Moving SF - To comply with the statewide "Daylighting Law" (AB 413), we will begin issuing written warnings for vehicles parked within 20 feet of any crosswalk in the direction of approaching traffic beginning Nov. 11, 2024. Click below to learn more:
— SFMTA (@SFMTA_Muni) November 6, 2024
1/https://t.co/XwmQKIDGwM
Implementing the law corresponds with strategies to improve safety at intersections and increase visibility between pedestrians and drivers. As the SFMTA's website outlined, daylighting creates extra space at crosswalks, enabling better sightlines. This will significantly enhance the line of sight for drivers towards pedestrians, particularly children, who may have been concealed by parked vehicles at intersections previously.
California was among the few states that did not mandate daylighting, a practice common since the institution of the U.S. Uniform Vehicle Code in 1926, which originally prohibited parking within 25 feet of an intersection. The SFMTA has cited the historical resolution from the Board of Supervisors in 2019, which urged the agency to implement parking restrictions at sidewalk corners, especially within the city's High Injury Network. The "Daylighting Law" aligns California with over 40 states that have implemented similar measures to enhance pedestrian safety.
