Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers to be given certificates allowing them to refuse to carry guide dogs


TAXI drivers could be handed certificates giving them the right to refuse to carry guide dogs on medical grounds.

Currently all taxis and private hires in Glasgow must - according to the terms of their licence - carry guide dogs, hearing dogs or assistance dogs alongside disabled passengers.

Their licences states that they cannot charge extra money for this.

Drivers can apply for dispensation from this condition if they have a medical illness which is aggravated by having a dog in the car.

They must have a letter from a doctor confirming this.

But there are now plans to issue these drivers with a certificate - to be displayed in the car - setting out that they can refuse entry to disabled people or those with visual or hearing impairment, if they have an assistance dog travelling with them.

The moves will be discussed at a meeting of Glasgow City Council's licensing committee on Wednesday.

A report on the plans, to be tabled at the committee, reads: "In order to more easily evidence to a member of the public who may wish to travel in a taxi or private hire car with their guide dog, hearing dog or assistance dog, that a driver has been granted dispensation on genuine medical grounds, it is recommended that any such driver is issued with a tactile certificate setting out the terms of the dispensation in writing and in braille.

"This will assist any member of the public in these circumstances who has visual impairment."

The report adds: "Where a taxi driver or a private hire car driver is unable to produce the tactile certificate then a member of the public is entitled to assume that the driver has not been granted a dispensation and that he or she is obliged to carry a guide dog, hearing dog or assistance dog in his or her vehicle.

"Where a hire is refused in these circumstances, members of the public are encouraged to report the matter to the licensing authority in order that it can be investigated."

Drivers who have not been granted dispensation but who refuse to carry a guide dog or assistance dog are in breach of their licence.

They will be referred to the licensing committee where councillors can consider suspending them.

There are currently no drivers who have been granted such dispensation, the report adds.

source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/1431 ... uide_dogs/

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

I personaly dont have a problem with it but what about the dugs shall we say that cast like hell ......Good half hour to clean your car out for a £3 hire .....and thats even putting the dug in the front foot well !

this, hope they introduce it here, i will be first in line, i have dogs, but the quack wont know that having said that i would get it, but i doubt i will pick up someone with a dog on a fri/sat night off the rank, but ya never know !

And if they do tests on you? You'll be fecked.

how? i would have a medical certificate, im sure a numpty form the council would not argue with a medical certificate form a gp, i would carry it around in the car & show the punter, i would talk sweetly & say things like, " yes , its a shame , i have always wanted a dog since i was a kid, we had one once but only for 2 weeks as it affected me badly " im sure she would feel sorry for me in the end & probably apologise for wasting my time ,( i took one last night as it happens, it was a boston terrier though, love them, just sat on her knee & i stroked it all the way ) them labs can fook off

There's a little blood test they do. It's not as easy as going to the doctors and saying "I'm allergic to dogs can I have an exemption certificate?" Doctors aren't that stupid.

One of our drivers has allergies. It took him forever to be able to get the letter from the doctor so that he could get the exemption certificate. He also has to go to clinics at least twice a week and blood tests every week to keep his medication correct. It is not just a case of telling the doctor and getting the letter. They have to check the severity of then allergy and see if the symptoms can be suppressed with medication before you are eligible for an exemption.

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Grandad,

It is.
At my last medical I asked for an exemption (I actuallly do have a genuine allergy, symptoms similar to hay fever). The doc replied 'Oh, never had to do one of those, there isn't a form for it. There's a form for wheelchair exemption but I have'nt heard of one for dogs'.

So he just wrote on the normal medical form the council provides 'applicant has allergy to dogs and cats, needs guide dog exemption'. When my badge arrived it included a seperate card stating I was exempt.

No tests carried out I just described my symptoms to the doc and he agreed it sounded like I was allergic.