Los Angeles County’s enforcement of California’s daylighting law has sparked a wave of confusion and frustration among residents.
The law, known as Assembly Bill 413, prohibits vehicles from stopping, standing, or parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk and 15 feet if there is a curb extension, regardless of whether the curb is marked.
Implemented by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the enforcement began on May 1, with citations costing $63.
The primary goal of this regulation is to enhance safety for everyone at intersections and crosswalks.
A recent poll conducted by Boyle Heights Beat revealed that a staggering 71% of nearly 350 participants were unaware of AB 413 before the report, further indicating a lack of public knowledge about the law.
So, what is daylighting?
Daylighting is a traffic safety initiative designed to improve visibility between drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians by eliminating visual obstructions near intersections and crosswalks.
Although the bill was signed into law in October 2023, it took effect statewide on Jan. 1, 2024, with a very short warning period for drivers.
During this initial phase, only warnings were issued unless violations occurred in clearly marked areas or in municipalities with existing similar regulations.
This warning period has now concluded, transitioning to stricter enforcement that varies by locality across California.
Residents are now questioning whether or not this law is uniformly enforced throughout the state.
Indeed, while AB 413 applies to all of California, its implementation can differ significantly from one city to another.
Local authorities can customize the no-parking distances based on traffic safety data, hence parking fines may not be standardized across various jurisdictions.
In Los Angeles, drivers are already subject to rules prohibiting stopping or parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk, with the ticket fines set at $73.
For areas under L.A. County jurisdiction, including East L.A., violations result in a lower initial fine of $63, but this amount may change depending on the circumstances.
An important concern for many drivers is the enforcement of this rule—can they still be ticketed even if the curb is not painted red?
The answer is yes.
The parking enforcement detail is actively working to ensure that clear markings and signage are available, even in areas that lack designated curb painting.
Residents who observe unmarked intersections are encouraged to reach out to the Department of Public Works (DPW) to request curb painting.
Some individuals have raised suspicions regarding the motivations behind the law, questioning whether it prioritizes safety or if it is merely a method for generating revenue through fines.
The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that the state has the highest pedestrian fatality rate in the nation, which is 25% higher than the national average.
Proponents of AB 413, such as Damian Kevitt, executive director of the nonprofit Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), argue that the law is fundamentally about improving safety for all the road users.
Kevitt emphasizes that the initiative is not geared towards maximizing citations, stating, “This isn’t about becoming a money-making revenue stream.”
He insists that the focus should rest on the devastating consequences of parking violations in areas where visibility is obstructed.
The concept of daylighting itself is not a novel one.
Many other regions and countries have implemented similar policies banning obstructive parking near intersections.
According to Kevitt, California is actually lagging behind when compared to effective safety measures in other parts of the world.
He believes that this straightforward and common-sense law is a significant step towards saving lives on the roads.
In conclusion, the rollout of implementation and enforcement of the daylighting law raises many questions among the residents of Los Angeles County.
With increased awareness about the importance of visibility at crosswalks and intersections, the hope is that this law will catalyze a safer environment for all pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists alike.
image source from：https://boyleheightsbeat.com/california-los-angeles-county-daylighting-parking-law/
