Taxi Driver Online

Stockport taxi driver fined after stopping to help disabled passenger

A taxi driver is refusing to pay a parking fine issued when he claims he was helping a disabled passenger. Morris Ross was handed the £25 fine a year ago after he says he was dropping off his passenger – who uses a wheelchair – on Princes Street in the town centre.

Morris was parked on double yellow lines and in a restricted area – but says he was only following orders. The 52-year-old says he spent less than two minutes helping the elderly man, who uses a wheelchair and only had one leg, safely out of his cab.

Morris, who lives on Tamworth Green in the town centre, said: “ Stockport black cab drivers went on a disability awareness course and were told we must do everything to help disabled passengers get safely where they’re going. “I was just doing what we were told we have to do and what always do – dropping a disabled passenger as close to their destination as possible. “I wasn’t causing an obstruction or putting anyone else in danger.”

Morris is challenging the fine that has now risen from £25 to £112 and is prepared to go to court. He added: “I’m adamant I'm not going to pay this fine – why should I when was just doing my job and providing a service. “I’m prepared to go to court if means be.”

Stockport black cab group secretary, Dennis Kyd, who speaks for 130 cabbies, said: “It’s very worrying that Morris was doing his job and what he has been asked to do with disabled passengers and have been given a fine any way – it just doesn’t make sense. Do they want us to take disabled people out of the cab and just leave them where are?”

Executive member Coun Iain Roberts said: "This would have been a very different case had he parked on double yellow lines as a Blue Badge holder may park on these. “However, he was parked on a loading ban area and they have far more serious restrictions.”

Kieran McMahon, director of Disability Stockport, said: “I have every sympathy for the driver in this case – I would have expected the council to waive the fine in this instance

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IDFIMH

Appeal against the pcn is the answer. I got a pcn in Folkestone in similar circumstances and won the case. The appeal chairman said it was reasonable to expect to wait a few minutes when collecting an elderly gentleman with walking difficulties.

Look under PATAS Shepway DC-v-Gould. It was a talking point on Pepipoo about 4 years ago.