'Daylighting’ law to increase visibility and safety at intersections

Published on August 11, 2025

As of January 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. To comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 413, the City of Palo Alto is responding in a phased approach with public education a key focus. Safety improvements at specific intersections will be evaluated throughout the year. Office of Transportation staff are prioritizing crossing locations for potential changes and enforcement emphasis, with evaluation based on locations with injury collision history along pedestrian and bicycle corridors included in the newly adopted Safe Streets for All Action Plan.

The Palo Alto Police Department is handling enforcement as community reports are shared with education as the primary focus and warning citations issued initially. Drivers can play a major role by yielding to pedestrians and parking at least 20 feet from the approach side of an intersection.

Learn more and report issues here

Read AB-413 here