Sec. 552.010. BLIND PEDESTRIANS. (a) No person may carry a white cane on a public street or highway unless the person is totally or partially blind.
(b) The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk where a pedestrian guided by an assistance animal or carrying a white cane is crossing or attempting to cross shall take necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering the pedestrian. The driver shall bring the vehicle to a full stop if injury or danger can be avoided only by that action.
(c) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that as a result of the commission of the offense a collision occurred causing serious bodily injury or death to a blind person, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine of not more than $500; and
(2) 30 hours of community service to an organization or agency that primarily serves visually impaired or disabled persons, to be completed in not less than six months and not more than one year.
(c-1) A portion of the community service required under Subsection (c)(2) shall include sensitivity training.
(d) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Assistance animal" has the meaning assigned by Section 121.002, Human Resources Code.
(2) "White cane" has the meaning assigned by Section 121.002, Human Resources Code.
(e) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code or the Penal Code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or both sections.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2428, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 278, Sec. 5, eff. June 5, 1985; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 649, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Renumbered from Human Resources Code, Section 121.007 and amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1272 (H.B. 1343), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Section: Previous 552.001 552.002 552.003 552.004 552.005 552.006 552.007 552.0071 552.008 552.009Last modified: September 28, 2016