Taxi Driver Online

Guide dog owners seek tougher penalties for taxi refusals


Guide dog owners are calling for stronger penalties for cab drivers who refuse to carry them.

The charity Guide Dogs claims owners are being let down because the penalties issued to taxi and minicab drivers who flout the law and refuse to take assistance dogs are inadequate.

Despite illegal access refusals causing distress, the fines for drivers who refuse are no higher than those given to people who dodge train fares or evade TV licences, it says.

New research from the charity found that prosecutions were rare.

Even when fines are handed out, they are low, with some licensing authorities that responded reporting fines as low as £50 to £100.

In a bid to change the law, more than 100 guide dog owners will visit Parliament on Wednesday to call for tougher sentences for taxi and minicab drivers who turn away assistance dog owners.

James White, senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: "Imagine you were turned away by a driver. This happens to people living with sight loss with shocking regularity just because they are accompanied by a guide dog.

"It's not only illegal, it knocks people's confidence and stops them doing the everyday things that most people take for granted.

"We want tougher sentences for drivers who turn away assistance dog owners.

"We would also like to see the introduction of disability awareness training for all taxi and minicab drivers across Britain."

source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/1450 ... _refusals/

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

i got one on Friday turned in to another argument , she was insisting it went in the back , i said no its going in the footwell in the front, she said it wasn't & it always travels in the back, i just said look, i don't want a 3 stone lab bouncing off my head if im in a shunt , the dog cant be secured so its in the front or you get another taxi, she went in the front eventually but is going to report me, once she tells the council, hopefully they will just say he was correct , luckily i had my camera on & recorded the whole incident ( well voice anyway) no nastiness or anything , i just simply explained why, i await my letter from the council though & have popped the clip on my phone once again CRAWL UP MY HOOP, I HAVE A DISABILITY !! not on my watch

Do you not have a screen ? I can understand wanting guide dogs to travel in the front in a saloon but i thought you had a hackney conversion Doblo in which case there is a much larger floor area in the back for the dog to lie down surely ?

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

In my Estate car Dogs go in the luggage area behind the rear seats, it's got a plastic tray so doesnt get Dog Hair entwined in the carpets., Should they not be happy then It's not my doing as I'm quite happy to take Guide dogs, People may be blind but surely it's not a big ask of them to help you keep your vehicle clean as you are just trying to run a business for all. I'll take other Dogs as well but only If they are Dry, clean, don't smell, good natured and don't have the Two bob Bits.

I wonder just how many or how few of that 100 have actually been refused a Taxi because of their dog or is it just a bit of Tub Thumping based on rumours and hearsay?

no mate, its a hi top doblo that has been converted to take wheelchairs ( tracking put down in the back, ramps,) other that that just looks like a normal car with the parcel shelf in

"We would also like to see the introduction of disability awareness training for all taxi and minicab drivers across Britain."

that's just ridiculous tbh

immediate revocation imo for drivers found to have refused a guide dog, personally I don't want these people in the job.

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

Could we get 100 drivers to pitch up at Parliament to bemoan the derisory fines to passengers that refuse to pay?

Would it make the news?

As to the slap on the wrist for attacking the Taxi Driver, what they get does not fit the crime and does not act as a deterrent.



That said, I agree with you CC, if you do not want to take assistance dogs, leave the trade and let the rest of us get on with it.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

Me too.

Why is it? Last year me and a few others did a walk with a blind lad who goes to Mansfield Town to support the football club, (see what I did there)? It was from one of the pubs in town to the football club. Half of us were blindfolded half the way then we swapped over to let the other half be blindfolded. I'll tell you something now it was a very daunting experience.

I can see that it would be.

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Grandad,

well perhaps starting form a pub wasn't such a good idea if you were going to be blindfolded

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

I'll say, be even harder to drive home from the pub like that too.

Tvvat

One tries.

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Grandad,