San Diegans are about to see a change on their streets come the New Year. Starting January 1, 2025, the enforcement of a new "daylighting" traffic law will commence, directly affecting how and where drivers can park their vehicles around intersections. This law prohibits parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk at an intersection, whether or not a red curb or no parking sign accompanies it.
This statewide measure, Assembly Bill 413, is designed to increase visibility and safety for those crossing streets, including pedestrians and skateboarders. According to Inside San Diego, the San Diego Police Department will initially issue warnings to those who violate the new regulation for 60 days following its inception. From March 1, violators could be hit with a fine of $65 plus an administrative fee of $12.50, totaling $77.50 – the same penalty as parking at a red curb in San Diego.
Bethany Bezak, the Transportation Department Director, was quoted in Inside San Diego stressing the importance of awareness and compliance with the new law, "It is important for San Diegans and visitors to be aware of and comply with this new state law. It may take some time for San Diegans to get accustomed to it, but together we can make our roadways safer for all users." For those concerned about discerning the 20 feet distance, Inside San Diego provides a useful approximation – imagine about one car length and a half's worth of distance.
The legislation aims to bolster the City's Vision Zero effort, which seeks to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries across the board. With 43 states already enforcing similar daylighting laws, the change brings California into closer alignment with a national push for improved road safety. According to Inside San Diego, the new regulation covers every marked or unmarked crosswalk and applies whether in urban or suburban, residential or commercial neighborhoods throughout the state of California.
