Taxi Driver Online

allergic yeah right

A REFUGEE taxi driver who refused to pick up a couple and the guide dog because of his allergies has been fined.

Mohammed Jassim, 48, was on duty in Durham in July when he was approached by a woman who asked if he could take her, her disabled husband and his guide dog.

Steve Buston, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council, told Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday how Jassim said he could not take the couple because of the dog but did not have an exemption certificate.

He said: "He apologised. He could not take them; he had an allergy to dogs but did not have an exemption certificate. He did not refuse the fare but effectively the facts are made out.

"He states he has an allergy but he had no exemption and it's important to point out that he still, to this day, has no exemption."

However, Jonathan Pigford, mitigating, said his client, of Springfell, Birtley, had been told by his doctor two weeks before the incident to avoid pets after suffering from a persistent cough and since the incident had undergone an independent medical assessment which confirmed he is allergic to dogs.

"It is inexpedient to punish him for this offence," Mr Pigford said. "He [the man] appears to have taken against Mr Jassim and made reference, saying he was not in Pakistan and because he was in Durham City he had to adhere.

"There's a certain irony in this case with the council saying there is a breach of the Equality Act when Mr Jassim finds himself in the situation where he may have also been discriminated against."

Mr Pigford said Jassim, who is also Sunderland University student, tried to explain and apologise but the man still tried to get into the vehicle and when he found another cab, made a rude gesture.

Mr Pigford said a conviction could jeopardise the father-of-three's application to remain in the UK indefinitely which is due in 2019.

Magistrate Sarah Cardew fined Jassim £63 and as well as £220 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

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

So lets blame the punter, and I suppose indirectly the dog.

And he didn't refuse them, just said he didn't want them.

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IDFIMH

Is this a case of a driver being issued a license without the appropriate checks(he was a refugee) being carried out as applicable to a British born citizen.

one rule for us and no rules for them...did I say that

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

He is a refugee , a taxi driver and a student at university and a father of three. Who i wonder
is paying his student costs ?

You probably...

And me.

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IDFIMH