P.R. Laws tit. 1, § 5071
(a) This section shall be known as the “White Cane Act”.
(b) All motor vehicle drivers shall take the necessary safety precautions when they are near a blind person who uses a white cane, or is accompanied by a guiding animal. The driver who does not take such precautionary measures and causes harm to or injures the pedestrian, shall be subject to the existing legal sanctions and shall be liable for the harm he/she causes.
(c) October 15 of each year shall be declared as the “White Cane Day” by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Said proclamation shall establish:
(1) The importance of white canes.
(2) That all citizens shall respect the provisions of the “White Cane Act” and shall take into consideration the safety of the blind and visually-impaired persons.
(3) The importance of the public policy concerning the disabled persons covered by this section, and reiterate it to the citizens.
(4) The importance of keeping all public places and facilities free of obstacles for their better enjoyment by all persons in the community, and emphasize it for the citizenry.
(5) That the Governor shall encourage all institutions, agencies and organizations that render services to the blind and visually-impaired persons, to develop and carry out public awareness activities concerning these citizens, during that week.
(d) Blind or visually impaired persons have the right to keep their white cane and guide dogs in their workplace and all public transportation means, and in public establishments or those available to the citizenry in general, pursuant to the provisions of §§ 201 et seq. of Title 8.
(e) The Disabled Persons Advocate’s Office, along with the Courts Administration, the Department of Labor and Human Resources, and any other government agency concerned, shall adopt the measures that are needed to achieve the purposes of this section. The Disabled Persons Advocate’s Office shall hold activities to increase public awareness of the importance of the white cane and the use of guide dogs by visually-impaired persons; shall insist on the relevance of the public policy with regard to persons with disabilities, so that the citizenry can develop an awareness of the need to keep all public places and facilities free of obstacles, for the best enjoyment of all persons in the community.
History —Aug. 9, 1995, No. 129, §§ 1—4; Aug. 21, 1999, No. 280, §§ 1, 2.