A Coronado resident is calling on the City Council to patrol for crosswalk-parking violations instead of relying on neighbor complaints.
John Tato, a Coronado High School graduate who retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2005, published a letter Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Coronado Times urging two policy changes. He wants the city to shift code enforcement from a complaint-only model to proactive patrols for crosswalk-parking violations. He also called for a new ordinance requiring that garages and driveways stay usable for parking rather than storage.
Both proposals target the same frustration. Vehicles parked too close to intersections block sight lines for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Garages converted into gyms and workshops push more cars onto already tight streets.
What the law says
California's Assembly Bill 413, known as the daylighting law, prohibits parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk at an intersection. For crosswalks with a curb extension, the buffer drops to 15 feet.
The law took effect in 2024 with a warning-only grace period and moved to full citation enforcement in 2025. Violations carry a $65 fine plus a $12.50 administrative fee. The law does not require cities to paint or mark the 20-foot zones.
Drivers bear the responsibility to comply.
Because virtually every intersection has a legal crosswalk, whether marked or not, the 20-foot rule applies at most Coronado street corners, Tato wrote.
What the city has done
Coronado has already taken some steps. In March 2025, senior management analyst Kelli Maples told the Coronado Times the city had reviewed its streets and identified 13 locations where markings or signage conflicted with the new restricted zones. Staff removed those markings.
A review of traffic reports at the time found no recommendations tied to pedestrian collisions caused by limited visibility, Maples said, though the city would continue to monitor.
What Tato is asking
Tato's first proposal: let code enforcement officers flag apparent violations they spot during routine duties, the same way police officers enforce traffic laws on patrol. He specified that any inspections beyond what is visible from public areas should comply with California law and constitutional protections.
"Ensuring public safety is not a popularity contest," Tato wrote.
His second proposal: adopt an ordinance, similar to ones in other California cities, requiring that off-street parking spaces mandated by zoning remain available for vehicles. Tato argued that many Coronado homes have garages designed for cars that now serve as storage rooms, home gyms and workshops.
No city officials have publicly responded to the proposals. The letter does not name specific California cities that have adopted the garage-use ordinance Tato describes.
What's next
The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 1825 Strand Way. Residents can address the council on non-agenda items during oral communications or submit written comments to the City Clerk's Office by email.
