Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver who refused to take wheelchair-using former mayor loses licence

https://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/1 ... s-licence/

A taxi driver chose the wrong passengers to turn down when he refused to pick up a wheelchair user - who was also a former mayor - and his blind companion.

Even though the booking had been paid for in advance, Majid Hussein Butt, refused to take former Harpenden Mayor Michael Weaver and former Chamber of Commerce President David Clarke, from St Albans to Harpenden.

Butt, of Ash Road, Luton, Beds, has lost his licence to work in the St Albans district and been fined £250 after a prosecution was brought by St Albans District Council.

St Albans Magistrates Court heard last Wednesday how Lisa Bates-Wallis, executive director of the St Albans Chamber of Commerce, had paid operator Gold Line in advance to take to take Mr Clarke and Mr Weaver from George Street, St Albans, to Harpenden in July last year.

She had told the company that both passengers were disabled, but when Mr Butt arrived he refused to take the passengers, saying he had a bad back, and drove away.

The group were left “stunned” and “disgusted” at the driver’s behaviour, the court heard.

Ms Bates-Wallis phoned the taxi company, which apologised and sent another vehicle that took both passengers.

The council carried out an investigation and launched a prosecution under Equality Act 2010.

In mitigation, Mr Butt’s solicitor Ahmed Malik his client had worked as a taxi driver for six years without complaint.

Butt was fined £250 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and a contribution towards the council’s costs of £250.

Following the conviction, the council has revoked his Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence and he has now been notified of the decision. He has three weeks to appeal.

Cllr David Heritage, chairman of the council’s licensing and regulatory committee, said: “We are very sorry at the distress caused by the refusal of one of our licensed taxi drivers to take a wheelchair user.

“The driver’s action has led to both a successful prosecution by the council in the courts and the decision to take away his licence under our convictions policy.

“Under the Equality Act, licensed taxi drivers using accessible vehicles must not discriminate against wheelchair users. They should also give them assistance when required.

“The vast majority of our taxi drivers do an excellent job and are very helpful to disabled customers with complaints being very rare.

“However, this prosecution shows that when we are told of an offence, we will investigate and take appropriate action.”

The council has a statutory duty to license drivers for the Hackney carriage and private hire trade within the district and ensure they abide by the rules.

Hackney carriages are licensed to pick up people who hail from the roadside while private hire licences only permit drivers to take pre-arranged bookings.

For more information about taxi licences, see: http://bit.ly/2UMFZhb.

St Albans taxi driver who refused to take wheelchair user loses appeal

https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/court-wa ... -1-6104197

The decision to revoke the licence of a taxi driver who would not take a wheelchair user has been upheld by St Albans Magistrates' Court.

Former Gold Line Taxi driver Majid Hussein Butt, 32, had his hackney carriage driver's licence revoked after his conviction, but appealed against the decision in St Albans Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 10.

Magistrates dismissed the case after ruling the council had acted correctly, and ordered Butt to pay £3,000 towards its costs.

Butt, of Ash Road in Luton, was accused of refusing to take a wheelchair user along with another disabled passenger on a journey from St Albans to Harpenden in July last year.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing in February and was fined £250, as well as a £250 contribution towards the council's costs and a victim surcharge of £30.

This may be the first prosecution of its kind since the requirement to take wheelchair users at no extra cost came into force in April 2017. His licence was revoked shortly after.

At the appeal hearing, Butt's solicitor Tim Scarisbrick argued that his client had apologised for a one-off offence and that he was genuinely remorseful.

He said at the time of the offence Butt was suffering from a bad back, limiting his ability to give assistance, and that his taxi's ramp was broken.

However magistrates found Butt never produced any evidence of a bad back and said he should have informed the council if his ramp was not working, upholding the decision to withdraw his licence.

After the hearing, Cllr Brian Ellis - chair of the council's licensing and regulatory committee - said: "I'm pleased that this appeal was unsuccessful and the magistrates supported our decision.

"Mr Butt was convicted of a serious offence and it was felt that we had no option but to take away his licence under these circumstances.

"Licensed taxi drivers using accessible vehicles are now forbidden by the law from discriminating against wheelchair users and it is our job to enforce that.

"The vast majority of the district's taxi drivers do an outstanding job and are very helpful to disabled customers. However, this prosecution shows that if we hear of an offence, we will investigate and we will take appropriate action."

sounds like another one we are well rid of

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