News Summary
San Diego has experienced a significant uptick in daylighting tickets, particularly in La Jolla, as parking enforcement adapts to new regulations aimed at enhancing safety at crosswalks. The city issued nearly 12,000 tickets since the daylighting law took effect, with over 300 in the vicinity of Windansea beach alone. While officials advocate for public safety, many drivers express frustration over insufficient signage and enforcement practices. The city’s parking landscape has shifted dramatically, raising concerns about compliance and awareness among the public.
San Diego is witnessing a significant increase in daylighting tickets, especially in the La Jolla area, as city parking enforcement officers adapt to a new safety measure intended to enhance visibility at crosswalks. This compliance effort, sparked by a California law, has resulted in thousands of tickets being issued in a short time frame, drawing both attention and criticism from the public.
From March 1 to August 12, 2025, the city recorded a total of 11,889 daylighting tickets citywide. A high concentration of these tickets has been observed on Vista Del Mar, a small street located one block east of the popular Windansea beach. In the first six months alone, over 300 tickets were issued specifically around this beach area, with 292 instances occurring on Vista Del Mar.
The daylighting law, which prohibits parking within 20 feet of marked or unmarked crosswalks, is designed to improve safety for all road users. Enforced in San Diego since March 2025, this law follows California Assembly Bill 413, which officially took effect on January 1, 2025. The law has quickly transformed the parking landscape in the city, with North Park initially being the focus of enforcement before La Jolla emerged as a new hotspot for violations.
The initial fine for parking too close to a crosswalk was set at $77.50, but it was raised to $117 a month after the enforcement began. Over the course of this initiative, the city has raised approximately $1,297,281 from daylighting tickets, significantly exceeding the budget analyst’s initial revenue estimate of $850,000 for the year.
While city officials emphasize that compliance with the daylighting law is mandated by the state, some drivers have expressed frustration. Critics argue that the enforcement practices are unfair, citing inadequate signage indicating the new parking regulations. Despite the city’s efforts to paint curbs and install appropriate signage, this process remains a work in progress and may take years to fully implement.
At present, curbs must be painted red to indicate restricted parking areas under the daylighting law, but enforcement can still take place even if curbs are unmarked. This lack of uniformity has created confusion for many drivers attempting to comply with the new regulations.
The city council is currently divided on the long-term viability of the revenue generated from these tickets. Some members suggest that as public awareness of the daylighting rules increases, the number of tickets—and thus the revenue derived from them—may decrease. Areas like Normal Heights, North Park, Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla, where parking is already limited, have seen a higher concentration of daylighting violations.
The San Diego Police Department’s parking enforcement unit has indicated a shift towards more proactive measures in residential neighborhoods to help alleviate parking challenges. As the city continues to navigate enforcement of the daylighting law, drivers are urged to stay informed about the evolving parking regulations to avoid unforeseen penalties.
Ultimately, the implementation of the daylighting law reflects a broader push for improved road safety in San Diego, even as challenges related to public awareness and enforcement practices persist.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
San Diego’s New Daylighting Law Causes Parking Woes
San Diego Enforces New Daylighting Law for Pedestrian Safety
Additional Resources
- CBS 8: New Hotspot for Daylighting Tickets in San Diego
- Wikipedia: Traffic Regulations
- San Diego Union-Tribune: La Jolla Parking Ticket Scam
- Google Search: Daylighting Tickets in San Diego
- Fox 5 San Diego: 4200 Daylighting Tickets Issued
- Google Scholar: California Daylighting Law
- CBS 8: Daylighting Law Fines in San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Daylighting Law
- NBC San Diego: Daylighting Tickets Revenue
- Google News: San Diego Daylighting Law
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
