New law bans parking near crosswalks. Here’s how to avoid a ticket in SLO County
San Luis Obispo County will begin enforcing “daylighting” parking restrictions near crosswalks to comply with a new state law that took effect earlier this year.
California Assembly Bill 413 made it illegal for cars to park, stop or idle within 20 feet of a crosswalk — about the length of a large car — or 15 feet of a curb extension on the side of the road approaching the crossing. It applies to marked and unmarked crosswalks.
The law is an effort to increase crosswalk visibility for drivers and pedestrians. It does not apply to driving cars stopped at stop signs or red lights.
Starting Monday, any cars parked within that 15- to 20-foot window will receive a violation ticket, even if there is no red curb or other pavement markings to indicate the daylighted area, SLO County said in a news release.
Violation fees vary by location, but have generally ranged from $40 to $100 across the state.
To implement the law, the county will correct areas currently identified as parking in daylighted zones, including the installation of road striping, red curbs or other pavement markers.
County staff estimated the change will affect less than 25 marked parking spaces in unincorporated areas of SLO County.
The county will implement changes incrementally based on priority areas, the release said.
First priority areas are marked or unmarked crosswalks within school zones and other special zones, and where marked parking is present next to a crosswalk.
Second priority areas are marked or unmarked crosswalks where unmarked parking is present next to a crosswalk.
For more information, contact the SLO County Public Works Department at 805-781-5252.
