§ 21-7-6 — Duty of Drivers to Pedestrians Carrying Cane or Accompanied by Service Animal

(a) The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color, with or without a red tip, or using a service animal, or an individual employed by an accredited school for training a service animal who provides notice through a sign or other method that he or she is training an animal as a service animal shall take all necessary precautions prescribed by law to avoid injury to the blind pedestrian or the trainer.
(b)(1) A service animal in training that is a dog shall wear a harness, collar, leash, cape, or backpack that identifies in writing that the dog is a service animal in training.
(2) Other service animals in training shall be identifiable by written identification as a service animal in training.
(3) The written identification for a service animal in training shall be visible and legible from a distance of at least 20 feet.
(c) Any driver who fails to take all necessary precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused to the pedestrian or the trainer.

Legislative History

(Acts 1975, No. 869, p. 1711, §3; Act 99-698, 2nd Sp. Sess., p. 298, §1; Act 2019-478, §1.)