ASSEMBLY, No. 1125

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman MURPHY

An Act concerning guide dog instructors and amending P.L.1977, c.456 and P.L.1939, c.274.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 6 of P.L.1977, c.456 (10:5-29.4) is amended to read as follows:

    6. A blind person accompanied by a guide dog, or a guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog, shall have the right-of-way over vehicles while crossing a highway or any intersection thereof, as provided in section 1 of P.L.1939, c.274 (C. 39:4-37.1).

(cf: P.L.1977, c.456, s.6)

    2. Section 1 of P.L.1939, c.274 (C.39:4-37.1) is amended to read as follows:

    1. Any blind person using as a guide a walking cane, predominantly white or metallic in color or any blind person using as a guide a seeing-eye dog or other dog trained as a guide for the blind, equipped with a rigid "U" -shaped harness such as customarily used on dog guides or any guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog shall have the right-of-way in crossing any highway or any intersection thereof, and all drivers of vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to such blind person or guide dog instructor engaged in instructing a guide dog although traffic on said highway or intersection thereof is controlled by traffic signals, anything in the motor vehicle and traffic laws of this State to the contrary notwithstanding. The failure of a blind person or guide dog instructor to comply with the provisions of this act shall not give rise to a conclusive presumption of contributory negligence by such person. The provisions of this section shall not

apply where traffic is specially directed by a traffic or police officer.

(cf: P.L.1971, c.81 s.1)

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Permits guide dog instructors right-of-way on public roads.