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Pedestrian-rights bill to protect visually impaired fails on tie vote
Summary
House Bill 96, designed to prohibit vehicles from entering crosswalks occupied by someone visibly blind or disabled, failed on a 36–36 tie after members raised concerns the rule is too stringent for multi-lane roadways and noted absence of presented statistics.
House Bill 96, which would have prohibited drivers from entering a crosswalk occupied by a person who is visibly blind or visibly disabled (for example, carrying a white cane or using a guide dog), failed to pass the House after a tie vote on Feb. 8, 2006.
Sponsor Representative Dahl described the bill as strengthening the existing duty to yield so that vehicles may not enter a crosswalk when a visibly blind or disabled person occupies it. "This bill basically prohibits vehicles from entering a crosswalk if the crosswalk is occupied by somebody who is visibly blind or visibly disabled," Dahl said, citing the intent to enhance protections for those with obvious disabilities.
Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s application on wide, multi-lane roads where stopping for pedestrians in a distant lane could create traffic and safety complications. Representative Bigelow argued the rule could criminalize otherwise safe driving behavior and said he had no statistics showing a systemic problem warranting the change. Representative Barris questioned whether current law already required drivers to wait for the crosswalk to be clear; the sponsor clarified existing law requires yielding but does not expressly bar entering a crosswalk while it remains occupied.
After debate, House members voted 36 in favor and 36 opposed; the tie meant the bill failed and was filed. The floor record shows the measure drew extended questions about implementation and whether a narrower fix would better achieve pedestrian safety goals.
