The City of West Hollywood is informing community members about a California State Law, Assembly Bill 413 (AB 413), to prohibit parking a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension (bulb-out) is present, as specified. Citation enforcement is mandated to begin on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

AB 413, also known as the Daylighting to Save Lives Bill or “Daylighting Law,” was signed into state law in October 2023 and went into effect on January 1, 2024 with a one-year grace period. The law aims to increase visibility for both pedestrians and oncoming vehicular traffic, with the goal of reducing pedestrian injuries and deaths by adding more time for drivers and people walking to see one another better. Due to their height, children are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be invisible behind a parked car. The term “daylighting” refers to the practice of keeping a clear zone of a specified distance on the vehicle approach side of a crosswalk. Daylighting is considered a best practice and is a frequently used tool in cities across the nation. The full text of Assembly Bill 413 can be found on the California Legislature’s website.

Beginning on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, drivers in communities across the State of California, including the City of West Hollywood, will be subject to citations for stopping, standing, or parking within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present, as specified (commonly referred to as a bulb-out), including T-intersections. All intersections on all approaches in the State of California are considered to have a legal unmarked or marked crosswalk, unless marked with signage for no pedestrian crossings.

The City of West Hollywood’s Department of Public Works is working to get the word out about AB 413 to residents, businesses, and community members with City information. The City’s Engineering division is in the process of evaluating intersections throughout West Hollywood to identify locations that warrant modifications to be consistent with the new law and some curbs will be painted red to provide clear indication for no parking zones. Still, drivers are advised that parking in a “daylighted” curb area in close proximity to a crosswalk or curb-crossings, whether painted red or not, is a violation subject to citation.

According to the Federal Highway Administration of the US Department of Transportation, approximately half of all traffic-related injuries occur near intersections. California’s pedestrian fatality rate is nearly 25% above the national average.

The City of West Hollywood has a continuous commitment to explore and implement a mix of measures to address safety as part of comprehensive plan with three unique areas to improve pedestrian safety: Engineering, Enforcement, and Education. The constant movement of dense traffic and pedestrians in close proximity is a challenge not only in West Hollywood but in cities across the nation.

During the past few years, the City of West Hollywood has implemented a variety of improvements including signalized pedestrian crosswalks on Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue; and, most recently, pedestrian safety crosswalk improvements on N. San Vicente Boulevard and Rosewood Avenue.

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s engineering efforts to improve pedestrian safety, including AB 413, please call John Gilmour, City of West Hollywood City Engineer, at (323) 848-6383 or at jgilmour@weho.org. For more information about parking enforcement, please call Vince Guarino, City of West Hollywood Parking Services Manager, at (323) 848-6426 or at vguarino@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000. West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.