07 Feb 2008

Taxi firm fined over guide dogs

A taxi company that refused to pick up a blind couple with their guide dogs
has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds by a court.

Paul and Susan Nicholls called for a taxi after attending a party in
Aldridge, near Walsall, last year to celebrate their daughter's wedding,
magistrates were told.

A member of staff at the ABS Aldridge taxi company refused to pick up
the couple when they first rang, and when they rang again he tried to
charge them more than double the usual fare for a minibus, Walsall
Magistrates' Court heard.

Company boss Suhil Dad, of Miner Street, Walsall, made attempts to find
out who took the call last June but failed, magistrates were told.

He admitted contravening section 31A of the Disability Act and was
ordered to pay £665 in fines, costs and compensation.

Councillor Rachel Walker, portfolio holder for environment at Walsall
Council, said: "These two people were treated very unfairly by the taxi
firm just because they had guide dogs with them.

"Trading Standards successfully put together a case against the firm which
led to a prosecution.

"We're very pleased that this couple have received some compensation
for this."

Mr and Mrs Nicholls, of Great Barr, West Midlands, have pledged to give
the £100 compensation awarded to them to the charity Guide Dogs for the
Blind, according to Walsall Council.

Source: The Press Association

Do you have to pick up 2 guide dogs?

A member of staff at the ABS Aldridge taxi company refused to pick up the couple when they first rang, and when they rang again he tried to charge them more than double the usual fare for a minibus

He sent them a minibus?

Regards

JD

I suppose two folks that need the help of guide dogs must be treated in the same way of one mush needed the help of a guide dog.

What is it with people dogs are not a problem in my experience are almost always reasonably clean and make a lot less mess in the vehicle than most drunks !

They got what they deserved in my opinion

I would and have picked up two people with guide dogs, but my point is how many do you have to pick up by law? I was under the impression that the law required only one. I am licenced for four passengers. If all had guide dogs, there wouldn't be enough space to accomodate them all.

I suppose that you are limited by space. If you have a saloon car then I doubt that you can carry any more than 2 passengers and 2 dogs because of the available room.
Does a dog constitute a passenger when counting the number of passengers?