Goleta begins enforcing AB 413 daylighting law after Old Town pedestrian death; staff urge education-first approach

Goleta officials told the City Council on Jan. 21 that the city is implementing CaliforniaAssembly Bill 413—the 'daylighting' lawwhich prohibits stopping or parking within 20 feet of the approach to any marked or unmarked crosswalk and within 15 feet where curb extensions are present.

The brief presentation by Andrew Fuller, principal engineer for the city's transportation and development engineering division, explained the law's intent is to improve pedestrian visibility at intersections and to reduce intersection-related fatalities by enlarging sight lines for both drivers and people crossing streets. Fuller said the state change modified California Vehicle Code section 22500 and cited national statistics the city used to explain the law's purpose.

The sheriff's department described a phased enforcement approach. Sergeant Rivas said parking enforcement placed more than 150 warnings in late 2024 to educate drivers ahead of the January 1, 2025 start for possible citations; early 2025 citations have begun but enforcement so far has emphasized warnings and education.

"We don't want to go out there and start writing a bunch of tickets," Sergeant Rivas said, adding that citations so far have targeted what he described as egregious violations that impede sight lines.

Why it matters: AB 413 changes where vehicles may legally park at intersections and curb extensions; in constrained commercial corridors such as Old TownGoleta it can reduce legal spaces for parking unless the city's striping and curb-management strategies are adjusted.

Council members pressed staff on how AB 413 interacts with the interim Hollister striping project. Fuller and City Manager Robert Nisbett said the interim striping added red curbs and other changes that increased available marked parking on a key Old Town stretch from about 69 spaces before the project to 88 spaces after it's implemented. Staff estimated that, without the interim striping adjustments, AB 413 would have removed roughly six parking spaces (about a 10% loss), but the interim striping left the city 'in a much better spot' with more spaces overall.

Council members and staff also discussed equity concerns. Council member Kiriakou and others urged continued reliance on warnings and education to avoid disproportionately penalizing low-income or vulnerable residents. Sergeant Rivas said the sheriff's office has tried to tailor enforcement and provide diagrams and written notices to explain violations when tickets are issued.

Public comment: During the public forum Eva Inbar urged the city to re-install a marked, high-visibility crosswalk with lighting and flashing beacons at Hollister Avenue and Magnolia Avenue following a pedestrian death on Christmas Eve; she noted another pedestrian fatality at that same mid-block area in 2003. City staff said the city's investigation of the recent crash found no evidence that roadway design contributed to the collision but that staff nonetheless would review conditions at the intersection.

What's next: The city will continue community outreach and warnings; drivers should expect citations for flagrant violations. Staff recommended targeted education, continued monitoring of parking impacts in Old Town, and follow-up reports as enforcement and public feedback warrant.