Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver 'did not want dog hairs in his car'

A TAXI driver refused to pick up a blind pensioner because his car was "too good" to have dog hairs in it.

Alan Dyte, 69, had been to inspect Bristol City Council's Phoenix House in Bond Street South to assess the customer services office's suitability for use by the disabled.

After the visit on September 6 last year Mr Dyte, of Westbury Park, waited for a taxi with the office manager.

But when taxi driver Dara Singh arrived Mr Dyte was shocked when he refused to take him.

At Bristol Magistrates' Court Singh, 36, of Hathway Walk, Easton, pleaded guilty to breaching the Equalities Act 2010.

The court heard that Singh did feel bad and guilty about the situation but that he did refuse to take Mr Dyte. He said he was sorry and that he didn't mean to cause offence.

Magistrates heard that Singh had taken guide dogs before but usually had a blanket to cover the seat.

Singh was fined £100 and ordered to pay £100 towards costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Mr Dyte, a former radio producer, told the Evening Post: "I was with the manager and we phoned for a taxi but he just came in the door and said he would not take me.

"He was threatened by his employer he would be suspended for the day if he refused but he still would not take me.

"He just told me his car was too good to have dog hairs in it. It was outrageous.

"I didn't need to report it because I had the manager of Phoenix House stood right next to me.

"Sadly this sort of thing is very common for blind people in the city. Often you can be stood at the front of a taxi queue and a driver will refuse to take you and another cab who will comes and takes your fare.

"Taxi drivers should be aware of the needs of disabled people because we provide a large part of their custom. This case shows the law says that we have to be considered so it is important they do consider us."

Following a complaint, a full investigation was carried out by Bristol City Council Licensing Enforcement team, who brought the case against Singh.

Councillor David Morris, chairman of the Public Safety and Protection Committee at the council, said: "The case strongly upholds the right of passengers with a disability to have access to public transport and we will do all in our power to protect these rights and urge anyone who is treated unfairly to make a complaint.

"The fact we had to bring the case is disappointing. We are doing all we can to educate Hackney carriage drivers and private hire drivers to ensure they understand the legal rights and needs of their passengers, particularly if they have a disability.

"The passenger involved, Mr Alan Dyte, was in fact on the committee which helped draw up a special Gold Standards training course we have brought in for drivers.

"This includes a section on meeting the needs of disabled passengers to give them the same opportunities as others to use a taxi."

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Taxi-dri ... story.html

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Just how many more of these are going to happen as a rule dog hairs get on the seats very rarely and if you have a black cab or a wav the dog will probably not even touch a seat guide dogs are trained to sit on the floor ! We have several customers who travel in the taxi with dogs (none of them guide dogs) and there is never an issue even the two muslim drivers will take them although i always offer them the choice

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

There's dogs and dogs.

Who would pick up the "tab" if a Business Woman complained about dog hairs on her Pin Striped Suit?

I might point out that the Ruling is that Disabled should have the "Same" Rights as others, when using a Taxi. So this point all hinges around the definition of the word "Same"!

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Don't dream it ~ Be it.

I don't think you are right here. Drivers are required by law to carry assistance dogs unless they have a medical certificate.

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Grandad,

Not in this case. There is specific legislation to cover it.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2002/ ... 500_en.pdf
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2003/ ... 073_en.pdf

Refusal to carry a guide, hearing or assistance dog is illegal, unless the driver has a medical exemption.
Refusal to carry any other dog is not illegal.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Prefer dogs to most of my punters on nights !

There are taxi drivers, and there are thick as sh** taxi drivers.

Mr Singh meets the later criteria to a tee.

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IDFIMH

for what, kennel cough? distemper? hardpad?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

It's a shame they did not fine him more?

Not in my experience - I can't ever recall taking a dog that didn't leave a fair few hairs, and if it's light coloured on my dark upholstery it is very noticeable.

I recall one that must have been moulting and it left an unbelievable amount of hairs on the back seat, and the car had to be vacuumed before I could continue.

I'd be surprised if I have more than a couple of dogs a year though, and I can't really recall ever having a guide dog.

he may not be a driver much longer, with the conviction is he now deemed fit and proper

A useful book for anyone having problems with excess dog hairs

Over the years I've had loads of guide dogs in my motor, a few hearing dogs and even a "companion" dog (assistance dog as defined by the link I posted )
None of them were any bother. They are trained to travel at their master's feet, usually in the front passenger footwell.
When there's hair left behind, you just pull out the rubber mat and give it a shake.

Wish some of the punters were as well behaved.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I've got one of these in case any guide dog who sits on the floor accidentally manages to get hair on the seats, £1.50 from Tesco with 20 meters of sticky tape.

Some drivers.

that is the difference between taxi drivers and people who drive taxis.

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Grandad,