New state law limiting parking near intersections to take effect Jan. 1

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The city of San Diego has begun removing parking meters, painting curbs red and posting up signage prohibiting parking near intersections ahead of a new state law that will officially go into effect Jan. 1.

The so-called "daylighting" law passed through the California state legislature in September of 2023. Under the new law, parking would not be allowed within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk as an effort to protect pedestrians and others crossing the intersection.

The law would also prohibit parking within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present.

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Beginning Jan. 1, drivers will be ticketed for violating the rule, even if there is no signage or red curb in the area. Current rules only call for a warning unless the violation occurs in an area with a red curb or posted sign.

The city said due to practicality reasons, not all curbs will be able to be marked with either red curb paint or signage about parking restrictions by the start of the new year.

However, 97 parking meters have already been removed, mostly downtown, and 67 others were moved away from the 20-foot restricted zone near intersections, the city said.

Nationwide, 43 states already have daylighting laws.