California law to increase visibility and improve safety

California's new ‘daylighting’ law to increase visibility at intersections and improve safety

As of Jan. 1, 2025, it is illegal to park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) or within 15 feet of a crosswalk with a curb extension or bulb-out. Parking in these areas is illegal statewide regardless of whether the curb is painted red. The law aims to enhance safety by improving visibility at intersections. 

This law applies only to the direction of travel when you are approaching a crosswalk (see visual on this page). Vehicles parking at any intersection or mid-block crossing where the new law prohibits parking will be in violation of State law. The Palo Alto Police Department is handling enforcement as community reports are shared, with education as the primary focus using discretion with warning citations issued initially as of August 15, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

What You’ll See in Palo Alto

To comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 413, the City of Palo Alto is responding in a phased approach. 

The community may see changes in the following ways: 

Community Assistance

• Drivers can play a major role in the City’s efforts by yielding to pedestrians and parking at least 20 feet from the approach side of an intersection. This applies only to the direction of travel when you are approaching a crosswalk, as noted in the visual on this website. 
• Take note of these new restrictions, avoid parking in these restricted areas, and help share details with your neighbors. 
• Parking in these areas is illegal statewide regardless of whether the curb is painted red. 

Intersection Evaluation 

Safety improvements at specific intersections will be evaluated throughout the year. Public Works will implement red curb markings in some locations, implementation prioritizing intersections in the University Avenue and California Avenue Downtown areas and on Safe Routes to School and bike boulevards in the following ways:  

1. As staff maintains existing markings, they will extend to 20 feet where daylighting applies 
2. Through annual street maintenance implementation contract work 

Office of Transportation evaluation based on locations with injury collision history along pedestrian and bicycle corridors included in the newly adopted Safe Streets for All Action Plan will continue and as sign changes occur. Many of these locations are in the Downtown and locations that overlap with City Safe Routes to School routes and bike boulevards.