San Diego Issues Hundreds of Daylighting Tickets Near Windansea Beach, City Calls for Red Curb Paint

A wave of parking citations has swept through La Jolla’s 92037 zip code, with the city issuing 704 daylighting tickets since March 2025. Nearly half of those fines were handed out in the shadow of Windansea Beach, a popular surf spot where drivers often assume parking is permitted because the area lacks clear signage.

The new daylighting law, approved by California lawmakers in October 2023 and taking effect on January 1 2025, prohibits stopping, standing or parking within 20 feet of the vehicle‑approach side of any crosswalk—marked or unmarked—or within 15 feet of a crosswalk that has a curb extension. Designed to improve pedestrian visibility and cut accidents, the statute does not mandate that cities paint curbs red or post warning signs.

Since the ordinance went live, San Diego’s parking officers have cited almost 400 beachgoers and residents for parking too close to intersections. City data show that those violations have generated almost $55,000 in fines. The 704 tickets are all concentrated in La Jolla, making the community the fourth‑highest recipient of daylighting citations in the city, behind neighborhoods in and around North Park.

Council President Joe LaCava, who represents La Jolla, said in a statement to the Times of San Diego that he backs the daylighting law and is urging the Transportation Department to paint more curbs red. "I am aware of the tickets being issued near Windansea Beach and across the city as we enforce California law and improve pedestrian safety," LaCava told the paper. "To assist residents and visitors, I continue to encourage the Transportation Department to implement the law at intersections in District 1 and throughout the city. Recently, in light of the three traffic‑related fatalities in Pacific Beach, I allocated discretionary district funds to accelerate painting curbs red."

Despite the council’s push, many curbs in the area remain unpainted, and drivers continue to receive citations for parking within the prohibited zone. The law remains in force, and city officials are working to raise visibility through signage and curb painting.

The daylighting law is part of a statewide effort to reduce pedestrian accidents. While the intent is safety, the absence of visual cues has produced a surge in citations in popular beach locales. The city’s discretionary funding for red curb painting marks a tangible step toward addressing the issue, but the overall impact on pedestrian safety in La Jolla is still unclear.

Enforcement data also reveal that most of the 704 tickets were issued on streets adjacent to the beach, where parking is scarce and traffic is heavy. The lack of red curb markings has confused visitors who are unfamiliar with the new law. To combat this, city officials plan to launch a public‑awareness campaign in the coming months, educating residents and tourists about the 20‑foot restriction and the penalties for non‑compliance.

As San Diego moves forward, the city’s focus remains on balancing the enforcement of the daylighting law with clear, visible cues for drivers. The addition of red curb markings, along with targeted outreach, will be critical in ensuring that the law’s safety benefits are realized without unduly penalizing those who unknowingly violate its provisions.