Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie warned in guide dog row

A taxi driver who refused to pick up a blind woman and her guide dog has been given a "final warning" by council bosses.

Cabbie William Jukes appeared before councillors in Durham on Friday after onlookers complained about his behaviour.

Mr Jukes refused to carry the woman and her guide dog, because he said it would take him up to 20 minutes to clear up afterwards.

At the hearing, council bosses stopped short of taking away his license, issuing him instead with a final written warning.

They said his conduct would be monitored for 12 months.

Mr Jukes apologised for breaching rules which require taxi drivers have to make necessary concessions to carry disabled passengers.

Mr Jukes not only faced losing his licence, but could also have been prosecuted under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The Act makes it an offence for a licensed taxi to refuse to carry a disabled passenger with a guide dog.

Mr Jukes was told that councillors took a "serious view to his ignorance of the Act".

The hearing was told how Mr Jukes, an owner-driver, refused to pick up the un-named woman and her guide dog on 2 December, 2003.

Members of the public who were at the taxi rank at Durham railway station at the time, complained about his actions.

In a submission to licensing bosses, Mr Jukes said he had picked up the woman and her guide dog, "thousands of times before".

He said he was very busy that morning, and, from past experience, he knew he would have to spend "15 to 20 minutes clearing out the car before taking another fare".

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IDFIMH

Well, does he not have a point?

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

Soz Andy, though he has a point he can't take that atitude.

Perhaps he works for Pratts. Didn't stop chuckling all weekend in Durham at a company calling themselves Pratts.

Besides which the standard was appalling from the majority.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

Tom, its all right for you and me, we just stick the motor in the yard and get the lads to clean it. But up North, I have been in cabs where we have been their best fares of the day, spending perhaps only £15. If its a £2 fare for 20 minutes extra work, it just aint fair on the poor bloke.

OK, you are right in that his attitude is wrong. I wouldnt refuse such a passenger. But I still find myself with a bit of sympathy. Perhaps for both parties.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

another fine example for the taxi trade

if he's picked her up a 1000 times before, he obviously has taken 1000 jobs at the minimum fare.

guide dogs are better trained than most passengers, and certainly smell a lot better!, they usually sit in the footwell rather than on the back seats anyway.

the guy is obviously an excellent example for the durham cab trade.

a written warning? the woman & dog should make an example of him

Hmmmmmm, when it goes wrong, it's the local cab trade.

But when it goes right, it just the cab trade.

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IDFIMH

Sussex,

I was being ironic, as opposed to the guy in question who was being moronic

Regards

Captain Cab

Where can he find a vacuum cleaber that runs for twenty minutes, not at an garage I use