News Summary
San Diego has implemented California’s daylighting law, which prohibits parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety. Since enforcement began, the city has issued thousands of tickets generating over $1 million in revenue. Community group Strong Towns San Diego is actively involved in raising awareness by marking curbs with chalk in various neighborhoods. While efforts to educate the public about compliance continue, debates persist regarding the clarity of enforcement and availability of parking for residents. The law aims at improving visibility and safety for pedestrians.
San Diego has begun enforcing California’s daylighting law, which prohibits parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk. The law took effect on January 1, 2025, and San Diego started issuing tickets for violations in March 2025. Since the enforcement began, the city has issued thousands of $117 tickets, collecting over $1 million in revenue from these fines.
The local group Strong Towns San Diego is actively participating in this enforcement effort by marking curbs with red chalk to signify areas where the daylighting law applies. During a recent volunteer event, community members chalked street corners in the Pacific Beach area, reinforcing the places where drivers can expect to be ticketed. The use of chalk is a symbolic initiative aimed at raising awareness around compliance with the new law.
Volunteers prepared homemade kits comprised of chalk, paint rollers, and measuring string to accurately delineate the required 20-foot distance from crosswalks. Strong Towns San Diego has extended its efforts beyond Pacific Beach, chalking curbs in neighborhoods such as North Park, Hillcrest, and Kensington as well.
The formal process for painting curbs in San Diego can be quite time-consuming. As of August 2025, city officials indicated that they had managed to paint red curbs at 1,000 out of 1,300 inspected locations, leaving many areas still unmarked. The lengthy timeline for marking these curbs has led to ongoing discussions regarding enforcement and clarity for drivers.
City data reflects that the areas of City Heights and North Park are experiencing the highest volume of parking violations. Despite rigorous enforcement, not all intersections have been painted red, which has left many drivers confused about their compliance status. Residents have criticized the enforcement process as being unclear, calling for better markings to help them adhere to the new law.
The daylighting law aims to improve pedestrian visibility and safety at crosswalks, ultimately reducing accidents. However, not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of available parking, particularly for individuals working late hours. Some residents have received multiple tickets and voiced frustration over the situation.
As part of the city’s efforts to educate drivers, officials are utilizing a dedicated city website and various social media platforms to help inform the public about compliance requirements for the daylighting law. City officials have pointed out that specific hot spots for parking enforcement have been targeted, contributing to the issuance of citations.
Despite the proactive measures taken by groups like Strong Towns San Diego, community members are still debating the efficacy of the law itself. Discussions have emerged surrounding whether local councils should gain increased authority in establishing specific parking restrictions near crosswalks, ensuring that the regulations are effective and community-focused.
In conclusion, as San Diego works to enforce the new daylighting law, local community groups and city officials alike are grappling with the challenges of clarity, compliance, and the ongoing need for safe pedestrian spaces. The combination of chalk markings, ticketing enforcement, and public education aims to bridge the gap between driving regulations and pedestrian safety, though the effectiveness and future adjustments of the law remain under scrutiny.
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Additional Resources
- CBS 8
- Wikipedia: California daylighting law
- NBC San Diego
- Google Search: daylighting law San Diego
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Law
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google News: San Diego daylighting law
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO 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.
