A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT clarifying that failure to yield the right‑of‑way to a blind or partially blind pedestrian under G.S. 20‑175.2 is A Class 2 misdemeanor.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑175.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 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 the 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. Any person who fails to yield the right‑of‑way to a blind or partially blind pedestrian as required by this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.