[nfbmi-talk] FW: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law

Marcus Simmons MarcusSimmons at comcast.net
Mon Nov 21 01:07:53 UTC 2011


I have been hit twice and they were both hit-and-run.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 7:04 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] FW: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law


> This sounds like, as John says, a great project for a chapter or division
> (hint Guide Dog Division(.  My brother has been hit 2 times with no
> repercussions to the drivers.  I think the fines are too low in this
> suggestion, below.  I think 3 points is minimal with license revocation 
> for
> a hit and run.  Michigan law, as I recall is marginally satisfactory, 
> though
> we ought to consider a review and update.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JOHN SCOTT
> Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2011 10:08 PM
> To: NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law
>
> Excellent ideas for a Chapter project.
>
>
>
> John  C/ Scott
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list" 
> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 1:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law
>
>
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> It is not even all of the police's fault that they do not know about the
>> White Cane Laws.
>> The White Cane Law, in my state, is not even in the statute book that 
>> most
>
>> police officers carry around in the police cars.
>> The police officers are not schooled on all of the laws in the Books.
>> They can't be, there are too many of them to remember them all and likely
>> no way to cross reference them based on some circumstances.
>> This is where we need to be proactive and help to educate them.
>> The problem, as I see it, is that most of the White Cane Laws do not
>> really spell out just what a violation is, other than that all vehicles
>> approaching a driveway or intersection must come to a full stop and 
>> remain
>
>> stopped until the carrier of the White Cane or person being lead by a
>> guide dog reaches the safety of the other side.
>> The violations should be clearly defined such as a vehicle that stops
>> across the stop line or the lines of or plane of a cross walk.  A vehicle
>> that blocks a curb cut or fails to come to a complete stop before making 
>> a
>
>> Right on Red turn or cuts a person off in the cross walk, who is
>> attempting the cross the street.
>> The fines should be at least $250 for a violation and a point on their
>> license.
>> If they strike a person, or their cane or dog, the fine should double and
>> add 3 points to their license.
>> Some of the fines should go into a trust fund to pay for a Public
>> Awareness Program to educate drivers and the officers of Law enforcement
>> as to the White Cane Laws.  It could pay for PSA's on TV and radio and 
>> for
>
>> public awareness programs and events at schools, driving schools and Law
>> Enforcement educational events.
>> I have had an idea for a P.S. A. program where we get candy from the MARS
>> candy company, such as M and M's and have a White Cane Law message 
>> printed
>
>> on the bags and little White Canes printed on the candies and then we 
>> sell
>
>> them as a fund raiser or give them away to motorist to make the Public
>> aware and spread the White Cane message.
>> Please let me know what you think and offer some ideas of your own 
>> please.
>>
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>> President, Palm Beach County Chapter, Florida
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
>> To: "'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'"
>> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 10:22 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law
>>
>>
>>> That is why it is up to us to educate them.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Tardif
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:30 PM
>>> To: NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list
>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law
>>>
>>> Forgive me for being harsh towards the police, but it is just amazing 
>>> how
>>> ignorant and stupid so many so-called police officers are about the 
>>> White
>>> Cane Laws, in whatever states.  Just my opinion.
>>>
>>> Mark Tardif
>>> Welcome to my planet
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Merry C. Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net>
>>> To: "NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list"
>>> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 1:48 PM
>>> Subject: [Chapter-presidents] White Cane Law
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> I know this thread of color canes has been going on for quite some 
>>>> time,
>>>> this is one reason for my changing the subject line (hoping this will
>>>> get
>>>> read).  My husband was hit by a car today and thankfully was not
>>>> severely
>>>> hurt.  When I arrived on the scene, after making sure my husband was
>>>> okay,
>>>
>>>> I approached a female deputy.  I asked her if the driver would be cited
>>>> under the White Cane Law which my husband had given her the statute
>>>> number
>>>
>>>> before I arrived.  The officer told me that an "accident is an 
>>>> accident"
>>>> and she was investigating.  She then said to me that he wasn't using a
>>>> cane he was using a dog.  I told her if she looked up the statute she
>>>> would see that guide dogs were part of the law.
>>>>
>>>> My husband then called for a higher authority at the district and so
>>>> another officer arrived on scene.  After dialogue which had an air of 
>>>> my
>>>> husband being at fault.  The officer finally looked up the law.  Now to
>>>> get to the point of this writing regarding color canes:  The officer
>>>> looked a my cane and told my husband that my NFB cane was not covered
>>>> under the law because it did not have a red tip.  I groaned inside and
>>>> let
>>>
>>>> my husband instruct him on this and then  the officer reread the law.
>>>> So,
>>>
>>>> again, my point is we have a difficult time convincing law enforcement
>>>> that the totally white cane is within the law could you imagine the
>>>> grief
>>>> we would suffer if we used color canes?
>>>>
>>>> Respectfully submitted,
>>>> Merry Schoch
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Veronica Smith" <madison_tewe at spinn.net>
>>>> To: "'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'"
>>>> <chapter-presidents at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 9:24 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] colored canes
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I like the different colored handles as well, maybe I will suggest that
>>>>>to
>>>>> the group that brought it up in the first place. Thanks for reminding
>>>>> me.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Fred
>>>>> wurtzel
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:37 PM
>>>>> To: 'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] colored canes
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Green signs are directional.  Blue signs are informational.  yellow
>>>>> signs
>>>>> are warnings.  Red signs are commands.  These are standardized so
>>>>> motorists
>>>>> can quickly understand the context of the message.  Though I really
>>>>> liked
>>>>> the idea of having a different handle cover for various outfits, the
>>>>> cane
>>>
>>>>> is
>>>>> a traffic signal and people all over the world quickly understand its
>>>>> significance.  This can be good or bad, depending on their attitudes
>>>>> about
>>>>> blindness.
>>>>>
>>>>> Warmest Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Fred
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Veronica
>>>>> Smith
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:15 PM
>>>>> To: 'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] colored canes
>>>>>
>>>>> Before I go any further, I want to let you know that I agree with you
>>>>> 100
>>>>> percent.  But on that same note, I have a question.
>>>>>
>>>>> We, the blind, want peeps to accept us for the individual we are, not
>>>>> for
>>>>> the fact that we are blind or sighted, right?  But still we focus on
>>>>> what
>>>>> color our cane is, white being the international and accepted color.
>>>>> It
>>>>> should be if a person carries a long cane, regardless on color, they
>>>>> should
>>>>> know that we are blind and need consideration  by not running over us.
>>>>> This is the argument that was first presented to me.  I hate when I 
>>>>> can
>>>>> see
>>>>> both sies of the coin.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>> [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle
>>>>> Clark
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 3:47 PM
>>>>> To: 'NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Chapter-presidents] colored canes
>>>>>
>>>>> Perhaps I am from a very "old school". Why would I want a person to
>>>>> know
>>>>> about me by various colors  of my cane? The main event is to pay
>>>>> attention
>>>>> and not run over me which could be to my detriment or even death. I
>>>>> think
>>>>> what some are trying to do will take the focus off of the purpose of a
>>>>> cane
>>>>> ; which is to help give direction and to aid and assist in travel.
>>>>>
>>>>> If one is at a   wedding, a party, or on the runway of a fashion show,
>>>>> then
>>>>> I would say do what you want. However, when I am walking the streets, 
>>>>> I
>>>>> want
>>>>> a nationally recognized symbol of my blindness; a long white cane.  I
>>>>> do
>>>>> not
>>>>> want a driver to make a choice on how they are going to react and use
>>>>> up
>>>>> precious time going through the color choices and the appropriate
>>>>> response.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>>> Chapter-presidents:
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>>>
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>>> izon.net
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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