Sacramento, CA – ATTENTION, DRIVERS. Several new regulations will be implemented in California starting January 1, 2025, affecting driving laws.
As the new year approaches, California drivers will see significant updates regarding insurance claims, car break-ins, and parking tickets.
The New Parking Law: The Daylighting Law
Starting in 2025, California will implement Assembly Bill 413, often referred to as the “Daylighting Law.” It prohibits vehicles from stopping within 20 feet of a crosswalk to enhance safety for those on foot at intersections.
The regulation is in effect for both marked and unmarked crosswalks, and it holds true regardless of the curb’s color. California cities are actively installing signage and painting curbs to assist drivers in adapting to recent changes, though they recognize that not every curb will be marked in red promptly.
When parking near a crosswalk, be sure to check for the red curb first. Honor that space if it exists. In the absence of red paint, ensure there is a gap of 20 feet (or slightly more than the length of a large SUV) between your parked vehicle and the intersection.
Locked Door Law
Senate Bill 905 addresses a gap in California’s criminal code, clarifying that burglary encompasses the act of entering a locked vehicle with the intention of committing grand or petit larceny or a felony.
“Simply having a broken window is not enough.” “Prosecutors are required to demonstrate that the door was secured, necessitating that victims physically appear in court to provide testimony,” stated Sen. Scott Wiener, the bill’s author.
Car owners and prosecutors will no longer need to demonstrate that a vehicle was secured; they only need to establish that there was an instance of “forcible entry.”
License Not Required
Employers can no longer mandate that applicants possess a valid driver’s license unless driving is an essential function of the position. The employer must also have a reasonable belief that you are unable to perform the job duties using another mode of transportation.
Advocates argue that mandating a driver’s license for positions unrelated to driving constitutes a type of unfair treatment in the workplace.
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Increased Insurance Coverage
A new legislative measure raises the minimum insurance liability thresholds for incidents involving injury or death in accidents, as well as for property damage claims.
Here is the table for your convenience:
| Coverage Type | Before Jan. 1, 2025 | Starting in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury/Death (Per Person) | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Bodily Injury/Death (Per Accident) | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Property Damage | $5,000 | $15,000 |
What does this mean? “Let’s say you got into a car accident and you were not at fault,” explains Omega Law Group. “If the person who hit you carries with them an insurance package with the minimum policy limit, the maximum compensation you’ll be able to receive for your injury will only be $15,000 regardless of how high your medical bills ended up being.”
Beginning in January 2025, your entitlement will increase twofold.
