[nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law, and Pedestrians in General

[Jewel S.]

This is what I found on North Carolina's White Cane Laws (part of the
generalized Pedestrian Laws, which gives pedestrians right of way at a
corsswalk not controlled by a crosswalk light or traffic light):

"Part 11A. Blind Pedestrians - White Canes or Guide Dogs.

"Section 20-175-1. Public use of white canes by other than blind
persons prohibited.
it shall be unlawful for any person, except one who is wholly or
partially blind, to carry or use on any street or highway, or in any
other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or
white tipped with red. (1949, c. 324, s. 1.)

"Section 20-175.2. Right-of-way at crossings, intersections and
traffic-control signal points; white cane or guide dog to serve as
signal for the blind.
At any street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the
movement of traffic is not regulated by a traffic officer or by
traffic-control signals, any blind or partially blind pedestrian shall
be entitled to the right-of-way at such crossing or intersection, if
such blind or partially blind pedestrian shall extend before him at
arm's length a cane white in color or white tipped with red, or if
such person is accompanied by a guide dog. Upon receiving such a
signal, all vehicles at or approaching such intersection or crossing
shall come to a full stop, leaving a clear lane through which such
pedestrian may pass, and such vehicle shall remain stationary until
such blind or partially blind pedestrian has completed passage of such
crossing or intersection. At any street, road or highway crossing or
intersection, where the movement of traffic is regulated by
traffic-control signals, blind or partially blind pedestrians shall be
entitled to the right-of-way if such person having such cane or
accompanied by a guide dog shall be partly across such crossing or
intersection at the time the traffic-control signals change, and all
vehicles shall stop and remain stationary until such pedestrian has
completed passage across the intersection or crossing. (1949, c. 324,
s. 2.)

"Section 20-175.3. Rights and privileges of blind persons without
white cane or guide dog.
Nothing contained in this Part shall be construed to deprive any blind
or partially blind person not carrying a cane white in color or white
tipped with red, or being accompanied by a guide dog, of any of the
rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing
streets and highways, nor shall the failure of such blind or partially
blind person to carry a cane white in color or white tipped with red,
or to be accompanied by a guide dog, upon the streets, roads, highways
or sidewalks of this State, be held to constitute or be evidence of
contributory negligence by virtue of this Part. (1949, c. 324, s. 3.)"

If I am reading this right, this means that if I extend my white cane
in front of me at arm's length at the crosswalk, all cars are to come
to a full stop until I am completely across. Am I reading this right?
If so, I need to talk to the ocal police about working to enforce this
law, because no one is actually following it, and I often have
difficulty getting across crosswalks even when the light is with me,
let alone at a crosswalk that is not controlled by a traffic light

~Jewel

On 3/23/10, David Baker <david at bakerinet.com> wrote:
>  Good cane technique and good judgment would preclude using it as a weapon
> against a car.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of
> Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:30 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Crosswalks, the White Cane Law,and Pedestrians in
> General
>
> If you are using a cane properly there should be no damage dun to the cars.
> Especially not to the hood.
>
>
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