Berkeley parking scofflaws who flout new law now risk tickets
The city said it's still mostly using warnings to raise awareness about a new law designed to protect pedestrians — but some drivers may get tickets.
Drivers should park at least 20 feet from the approaching side of an intersection to help fellow motorists see and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
Doing so also lowers the risk of getting ticketed as part of a California law that went into effect this year.
Parking in these areas is illegal and can yield a $64 ticket in Berkeley, regardless of whether the curb is red. On Cal Football game days, the fine will increase to $96.
In Berkeley, parking enforcement officers have been educating drivers by giving out warnings about these newly off-limits "daylighting" zones where parking is prohibited — within 20 feet before a crosswalk on the right side of a two-way street and on both sides of a one-way street.
Warnings will continue for most drivers who park at unpainted red curbs as people continue to learn about the law. But repeat offenders who park in unpainted daylighting zones may find they are ticketed.
The main reason for parking farther from intersections is safety.
Help fellow motorists see pedestrians at marked crosswalks as well as unmarked ones (wherever one sidewalk curb opens toward another curb for a crossing).
Park at least 20 feet from the approaching side of an intersection.
Park about one car length from the crosswalk
Twenty feet is slightly longer than a car length. A Toyota Prius sedan is 15 feet long. A Ford F-150 truck is 17.5-19 feet long.
Park at least one car length from the intersection to avoid a citation.
Parking spots within 20 feet of a crosswalk that had been reserved for people with disabilities will be moved to comply with the new state daylighting law.
The diagram at the top of this story shows how daylighting works at an intersection with marked and unmarked crosswalks.
"Repeat offenders who park in unpainted daylighting zones may find they are ticketed."
Drivers must yield to pedestrians at intersections
Generally speaking, pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks and vehicles have the right-of-way elsewhere in the roadway.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter."
California Vehicle Code Section 21954 states: "Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard."
Traffic cues help drivers get ready to stop for pedestrians
Watch out for the following cues on Berkeley streets to prepare to yield to pedestrians:
- Yield lines (white triangles painted on the pavement) and paint markings in the roadway that say "yield"
- Posted yield signs near intersections
- Rectangular rapid flashing beacons that flash at eye level at select crosswalks
- High-visibility crosswalks
- Curb extensions where a sidewalk juts out to create shorter crossings for pedestrians
When you see those cues, be alert for pedestrians.
City of Berkeley
Berkeley is still working to paint curbs red
The city of Berkeley has more than 1,700 intersections.
Many of them need upgrades to reflect the new daylighting law, such as removing parking meters within 20 feet of a crosswalk, relocating parking spaces for people with disabilities (marked by blue curbs) and painting curbs red.
As resources allow, the city’s goal is to paint the curb red at all daylighting zones and, in select intersections, to add new infrastructure, such as "no parking" paint, bike corrals, flexible posts and boulders, to deter repeat daylighting violations.
Drivers can play a major role in the city’s efforts by yielding to pedestrians and parking at least 20 feet from the approaching side of an intersection.
This post originally appeared on the city of Berkeley website and has been reprinted here with minor edits. Get more city of Berkeley alerts by subscribing online.
