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San Marcos council adopts parking-penalty update to conform with state 'daylighting' crosswalk law
Summary
The council approved an administrative amendment to align the city's parking penalty fee schedule with Assembly Bill 413 and state vehicle code requirements, including a 60-day warning period and a $52 fee for parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
Mayor Rebecca Jones and the San Marcos City Council voted to amend the city's parking penalty fee schedule to align local fines with state law that prohibits parking within 20 feet of marked or unmarked crosswalks.
City traffic staff (Sylvia Salis Daniels) told the council the change implements Assembly Bill 413 and adds a previously missing fee so the city can consistently apply the existing state rule. "This item brings the city's parking penalty fee schedule into alignment with the current state law," Sylvia said during the staff presentation.
The measure includes a 60-day warning period before fines take effect and a $52 citation if paid within 30 days. Staff said the rule is intended to "increase pedestrian safety" by improving visibility at intersections.
Council Member Nunez pressed staff on how enforcement would affect neighborhoods with limited parking and how residents would know where citations might be issued. Nunez said she was concerned that "for some of our residents, dollars 52 is a large sum" and asked about waiver and appeal procedures.
Staff responded that enforcement will be largely complaint-driven, that the parking enforcement contractor and sheriff deputies can issue citations and that senior volunteer patrol and park rangers can also issue warnings or citations. A staff member said the city will emphasize outreach during the 60-day warning period and post clear guidance on the city website; the mayor recommended using the city alert system in English and Spanish.
Council Member Musgrove clarified a technical point about measurements: the 20-foot distance is measured from the sidewalk curvature (intersection radius), not where the roads meet, and said the council could consider localized red curbing only in repeatedly problematic locations.
After discussion the council moved, seconded and voted to approve the amendment to the penalty fee schedule (Resolution 2026-9533). The council recorded all ayes; no nos were announced. The change is administrative and does not alter parking availability according to staff, who said they do not plan to paint red curbs citywide for the law's implementation.
The council directed staff to proceed with the 60-day warning and community outreach plan and to make enforcement guidance available on the city website and parking hotline.
