Starting Jan. 1, you can be cited if you park within 20 feet of a crosswalk, even without warning signs or red-painted curbs, under a statewide parking law set to go into effect next year. .
Assembly Bill 413, or California’s “daylight” law, goes into effect in 2024 and requires drivers to stop or stand within 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 15 feet of a crosswalk with a curb extension. Parking is prohibited.
During the first year of the law, violators were given a warning and let off unless the violation occurred in a properly marked area.
However, that warning period ends on January 1st.
Drivers in Los Angeles should already be familiar with this rule, as the city’s city ordinance currently prohibits drivers from parking within 8 meters of “approaching the nearest line of a crosswalk.” is.
The rest of Los Angeles County currently follows state law.
According to an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department parking spokesperson, the only exception to driving within 20 feet of a crosswalk is “if necessary to avoid a traffic collision or if a peace officer or official traffic control device “If you follow instructions.” Enforcement details.
Enforcing the law could also prove difficult in unincorporated Los Angeles County and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County, officials acknowledge there are an unknown number of unmarked crosswalks that require drivers to park 20 feet apart.
If the crosswalk is not properly marked, drivers will still have to obtain a permit.
“In residential areas with low traffic volumes, these regulations may not be signposted and may not yet be enforced; [the Los Angeles Department of Transportation] The warning will continue to be issued until [Los Angeles Municipal Code] It has been updated to reflect changes in state law,” said LADOT spokesperson Colin Sweeney.
The sheriff’s office said it will take a similar approach for unincorporated areas, noting that it is the Department of Public Works’ authority to ensure curbs are painted and signs are installed.
“Cooperation with DPW is critical to ensuring clear curb markings and signs are implemented where appropriate,” the department said.
Why is this the law?
The goal of Assembly Bill 413 is to increase visibility for everyone when a person is using a crosswalk.
This safety measure, known as “daylighting,” allows the person crossing the road and the person behind the wheel to see each other from a distance when parked cars may block each other’s view. It becomes easier.
“Daylighting is a proven method that can make streets safer for everyone, and 43 other states already have some version in place,” Rep. Alex Lee (D-San Jose) said in a statement. We are introducing daylight lighting.” “By making it easier for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to see each other at intersections, we can all take a simple and important step toward sharing our roads safely.”
According to the California Department of Traffic Safety, the state’s pedestrian fatality rate is more than 25% higher than the national average.
In 2020, 26% of fatal bicycle and other bicyclist crashes occurred at intersections, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, intersections are “extremely dangerous for bicyclists and places where bicycles and motor vehicles intersect.” There is a high risk of collision.”
Some parts of California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Alameda, already have versions of this pedestrian safety rule in place, but the California Daylighting Act does not create uniform rules across the state. Masu.
What happens if I park within the 20-foot or 15-foot prohibited area?
You better adapt to the new law, because the city of Los Angeles charges a $93 fine for parking, idling, or stopping within 20 feet of a sign that prohibits it.
How do I measure 20 feet from a crosswalk?
Officials say there’s no need to carry around a tape measure just in case you come across a space near a crosswalk the next time you’re looking for a parking spot.
When trying to determine whether your vehicle is 20 feet from a crosswalk, the sheriff’s office advises asking yourself if a midsize SUV that is about 15 feet long can fit between you and the crosswalk. .
If a midsize SUV with a little more room fits in, you’ll be fine. If no other cars can get between your car and the crosswalk, you will need to find another parking space.
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