White Cane Law

The White Cane Law establishes a state's policy on the rights and safety of people with disabilities as they travel and participate in public life, and defines the key terms it relies on, including "dog guide" and "service animal." Its principal mechanism is a duty of care on drivers, who must take specified precautions when approaching a wheelchair user or a pedestrian traveling with a white cane, dog guide, or service animal, with penalties attached to violations; the act also preserves the same rights and privileges for a person with a disability who does not carry a cane or use a guide animal, and forbids anyone not entitled to do so from using a white cane, dog guide, or service animal. It additionally addresses the employment of persons with disabilities in public service.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.