(a) Whenever any pedestrian guided by a guide dog or dog on a blaze orange leash, or carrying in any raised or extended position a cane or similar stick white in color or white tipped with red, shall undertake to cross any public street or thoroughfare in this state, the driver of each and every vehicle approaching such pedestrian carrying such cane or stick or conducted by such dog shall bring such vehicle to a complete stop and before proceeding shall take all precautions necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as making any person totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated guilty of contributory negligence in undertaking to cross any street or thoroughfare without being guided by a trained dog or carrying a cane or stick of the type above mentioned.

(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

[Acts 1951, ch. 72, § 2 (Williams, §§ 2670.11, 2670.12); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-881; Acts 1980, ch. 488, § 2; 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]