A newly enacted daylighting law in San Diego that prohibits parking within 20 feet of intersections has garnered significant attention, not only for its public safety intentions but also for its financial implications for the city’s budget.
Since enforcement began on March 1, 2023, the city has seen a notable influx of revenue from citations related to this violation.
Fines for parking violations under this law were raised from $77.50 to $117 just two days after enforcement commenced, with critics arguing that the city is leveraging unsuspecting drivers to address a growing budget deficit.
What makes this law particularly controversial is its applicability; it remains enforceable even if curbs are not painted red or if no ‘no parking’ signs are present.
While city crews have begun painting some curbs and posting signs, many of the city’s 16,000 intersections remain unaware of the new restrictions.
As of the end of May, San Diego issued 6,133 daylighting citations, prompting the independent budget analyst (IBA) to estimate that these fines could generate an estimated $850,000 to help balance the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
However, a coalition of City Council members proposed a higher revenue estimate of $1.3 million, seeking new sources of revenue to reverse budget cuts suggested by Mayor Todd Gloria.
Despite differing forecasts about the reliability of daylighting revenue, the IBA predicted a decline in citations as more citizens become aware of the regulations in place.
In a report dated June 3, the IBA stated, ‘As the public becomes more aware of daylighting regulations, we anticipate that fewer citations will be issued, resulting in declining revenue.’
In contrast, the council coalition expressed an optimistic outlook in their June 10 budget compromise proposal, which the council adopted in a vote of 7-2 after extensive debate.
They argued that the reputation of similar fines, such as those for street sweeping or expired meters, suggests that revenues from daylighting fines will likely remain stable over time.
One critical factor affecting future citation revenue is the city’s plan to continue painting curbs red.
Currently, city officials have painted red curbs at around 400 intersections, with evaluations ongoing for approximately 1,000 intersections in total.
City spokesperson Nicole Darling explained that the plan is to gradually complete the remaining curb painting as part of paving activities and other infrastructure projects.
However, the process of painting all curbs could take several years to complete.
It’s important to note that the daylighting law, known as AB 413, is a state mandate, providing no financial assistance to cities for compliance.
Moreover, the law extends beyond intersections; parking must also be regulated within 20 feet of any crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, in an effort to enhance pedestrian safety by ensuring visibility for vehicles approaching intersections.
At some intersections with curb bulb-outs designed to enhance traffic safety, the parking buffer is set at 15 feet instead of 20.
An aggressive enforcement strategy could potentially increase citation numbers and, consequently, city revenue.
Currently, the Police Department’s parking enforcement division has primarily concentrated its efforts in downtown areas and locations with metered parking.
Earlier in the year, they mentioned that there were no immediate plans for proactive enforcement in residential parts of the city.
While the coalition of council members deemed $1.3 million a justifiable estimate for citation revenue in the new fiscal year, the adopted budget still reflected the lower figure of $850,000 suggested by the IBA.
As the city navigates these new regulations and the financial implications, the daylighting law will remain a focal point of discussion, balancing the need for safety with the practicalities of city budgeting.
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