The city of San Diego is making changes to parking regulations ahead of a new state law that will take effect on January 1. This new law, known as the “daylighting” law, was passed by the California state legislature in September of 2023. The purpose of this law is to improve pedestrian safety by restricting parking near intersections.
Under the new law, parking will not be allowed within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Additionally, parking will be prohibited within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. These measures are being put in place to protect pedestrians and others who are crossing the intersection.
Starting on January 1, drivers who park in violation of these rules will be subject to ticketing, even if there is no signage or red curb in the area. Previously, only warnings were given unless there was a red curb or a sign indicating parking restrictions.
In preparation for the new law, the city of San Diego has already begun taking action. 97 parking meters have been removed, primarily in downtown areas, and 67 other meters have been relocated away from the restricted zones near intersections. However, due to practical reasons, not all curbs will be marked with red paint or signage by the start of the new year.
It is important to note that this new law is not unique to California. In fact, 43 states across the country already have similar “daylighting” laws in place to promote pedestrian safety.
Overall, these changes are being made with the goal of creating safer streets for pedestrians and improving overall traffic flow near intersections. As the city continues to make adjustments in preparation for the new law, drivers are encouraged to be mindful of parking regulations and to avoid parking near crosswalks to ensure the safety of pedestrians and compliance with the new regulations.
