Marin County jurisdictions adapt to new parking law

Marin County police agencies have a new state law for their mix of enforcement duties.

Assembly Bill 413, the “daylighting law,” went into effect on Jan. 1. It prohibits drivers from parking within 20 feet of approaching crosswalks. Violators will still be penalized if there are no red sidewalk curbs or no-parking signs present.

The Mill Valley Police Department compared the no-parking buffer to an SUV model.

“Twenty feet is approximately the length of a Chevy Tahoe,” the department stated on its website.

San Rafael police began issuing citations on the day AB 413 took effect. Violators face a $65 fine, the same penalty for parking in a no-parking zone, Assistant City Manager John Stefanski said. The police issued six citations to violators during the first week of enforcement, he said.

Stefanski said the law is intended to improve pedestrian safety.

“Daylighting is the idea that by removing parked cars next to crosswalks, we’re able to provide drivers with greater visibility of people who may be walking in the crosswalk,” he said. “It’s an attempt to increase the visual field of both pedestrians who are trying to cross the street as well as drivers who are pulling up to the intersection.”

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Democrat from San Jose, called the law a step toward improving road safety.

“California’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly 25% higher than the national average,” he said after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in 2023. “By increasing critical visibility of our streets, this bill will prevent fatal accidents.”

In San Rafael, police issued warnings to violators last month. Stefanski said the city staff also “redbagged” or marked metered parking spots as no-parking zones if they’re too close to crosswalks in the downtown area.

As for long-term solutions, the city staff is considering options such as painting red curbs near crosswalks and installing street signs. Stefanski said such options would have to be considered for the city’s capital improvement plan.

“Because it’s a new law, it’s an unfunded mandate,” he said. “I would expect we would include some budget to tackle some of these longer-term strategies.”

In the county’s jurisdiction, the public works staff has not yet identified a fine amount for the new law, sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn said. He said the staff also hasn’t drafted a resolution on the law for the Board of Supervisors to review for approval.

“Until it is complete and voted on by our board, it is not enforceable,” Schermerhorn said.

In Mill Valley, police Capt. Lindsay Haynes said the staff will inform the public about the new law and issue warnings while updating citation writers and the penalty schedule.

“Enforcement will most likely come at the end of this month,” she said.

The Novato Police Department also is working to inform the public before enforcing the law. Lt. Sophia Winter said officers will first issue warnings to violators.

Winter said police are working with the city engineering staff on road design and improvement projects.

“Anytime we have new legislation, we start by educating the public,” Winter said. “This is a critical first step to ensure our community is informed about new laws.”