
The City of Goleta would like to help educate the community about California’s new Daylighting law, Assembly Bill 413, which went into effect January 1, 2025.
The new law says that (please refer to graphic below):
- Drivers cannot park along the right side of the road, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, whether it’s marked or unmarked.
- Drivers cannot park along the right side of the road, within 15 feet of a crosswalk with a curb extension.
- The law only applies to stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet of any crosswalk with a curb extension.
- Applies only to vehicles parked along the right side of the roadway as you approach intersections.
This law is intended to:
- Improve visibility at intersections.
- Make it easier for drivers to see pedestrians, skateboarders and other road users.
- Reduce accidents and save lives.
The law allows for violators to be issued a parking citation for violating the Daylighting Law. The Goleta Police Department is aware street parking in local neighborhoods can be difficult, and parking is limited.
This law was written to address incidents where pedestrians were struck and seriously injured or killed while crossing the street. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, California’s pedestrian fatality rate was 25% higher than the national average. Pedestrian fatalities increased from 1,013 in 2020 to 1,108 in 2021. There are 43 other states that have implemented similar laws that have resulted in successfully reducing traffic collisions involving pedestrians.
The City of Goleta contracts with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.