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Commission hears overview of new "daylighting" parking rule (AB 413); enforcement to start after education period
Summary
Staff and police described Assembly Bill 413, which bars parking within 20 feet of crosswalks (15 feet where curb extensions exist). The city will prioritize signage and red curbing at high-turnover and school locations and focus initial efforts on public education before sustained enforcement.
Senior engineer Jim Machiko (Machiko/Mashiko in transcript) briefed the commission on March 26 about the state’s daylighting requirement added by Assembly Bill 413, which prohibits parking or stopping a vehicle within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (15 feet where curb extensions are present).
“Assembly Bill 413 went into effect, which amended our vehicle code to prevent parking of or stopping of vehicles along a curb within 20 feet approaching a marked or unmarked crosswalk,” Machiko said during the informational presentation.
Staff told commissioners they have identified high-priority locations — including school crossing guard locations and sections of Thousand Oaks Boulevard — and will install no-parking signs or red curb in several dozen places to help motorists who are unaware of the law. Machiko said it is impractical to mark every intersection approach and the city will treat many unmarked restrictions the same way it handles unmarked restrictions at fire hydrants.
Sergeant Holmes of the Thousand Oaks Police Department described the department’s enforcement approach as starting with education: officers and parking enforcement personnel will have discretion in issuing citations, and enforcement will consider how egregious a violation is. “If you were parked within 19 feet, technically, you’re in violation of the new law, but some leeway can be given there because we don’t expect everybody to accurately be able to visually estimate 20 feet,” Sergeant Holmes said. He added that flagrant violations, such as a bumper touching a crosswalk, would more likely draw enforcement action.
Commissioners recommended broad public outreach, including social media and school communications, to notify parents and residents about the change. Staff said the police department issued a press release and that outreach will continue on the city website and social platforms. The presentation was informational and no vote was required.
The city will review low-compliance areas case by case and install signs or red curb where repeated problems arise; staff said the item will return to the commission only if new trends or significant findings warrant further discussion.
