City of Oakland Daylighting enforcement will have to wait

Oakland has not enforced a new law aimed at preventing parking too close to intersections, which went into effect in January and enhances visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Communications director Sean Maher explained that the Department of Transportation is limited by a shortage of staff, with only two members responsible for curb painting across the city's expansive area. The law, AB 413, allows jurisdictions to issue citations after a warning period, but Oakland's implementation is delayed. Local advocates like Robert Prinz from Bike East Bay assert that the city is ahead in applying the law to new paving projects, a measure previously ignored by other jurisdictions. Assemblymember Alex Lee highlighted the law's importance for street safety, particularly at intersections, which are often high-risk areas for collisions.

Maher indicated that the city plans to seek funding for additional painting staff in the next city budget. This incremental approach to curb painting may extend over multiple years, as improvements are made public. The city's lack of an organized plan contrasts with other Bay Area cities, such as San Francisco and Berkeley, which have actively implemented similar measures.