Taxi Driver Online

Fine for taxi driver who told blind man: I can't take your guide dog, it's against my religion


A taxi driver who claimed his religion forbade him from giving a lift to a blind man and his guide dog has been fined £300.

Ali Raza Roshanmoniri arrived to pick up Christopher Odell from the school where he works as a voluntary counsellor - but then refused to take him as a passenger with his dog.

The driver told Mr Odell it was against his religion to carry dogs and eventually the car company sent a replacement taxi to collect the counsellor.

But the very next day Roshanmoniri handed his local council's taxi licencing department a letter from his GP stating that an allergy to animal hair prevents him carrying dogs.

Meanwhile the school staff member who had arranged the taxi for Mr Odell lodged a complaint with Broxtowe Borough Council, Notts.

Taxi company Cable Cars suspended Roshanmoniri and yesterday the council prosecuted him for breaking the terms of his operating licence.
The taxi driver was fined £300 and ordered to pay £150 in costs after he admitted breaking the Disability Discrimination Act. He was also told to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Roshanmoniri, of Bramcote, Notts, submitted his guilty plea to Nottingham Magistrates Court by post, according to Broxtowe Borough Council.

The council added that Roshanmoniri has since applied for an exemption from carrying guide dogs.

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

I think, if this driver hasn't lost his license already, then best he finds himself a new job.

The law applies to all of us.

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IDFIMH

an allergy to fur/hair is the only excuse to refuse a guide dog transport here, but it IS allowed, and seems fair, why should a driver suffer over this? its his car and living

If he had a reasonable excuse, the court wouldn't have found him guilty.

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IDFIMH

My understanding is that he allegedly said that he refused on religious grounds first and then changed his mind and produced a doctors certificate later.

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Grandad,

Im sure that if Mr Ali Raza Roshanmoniri should ever lose his licence on the grounds of his religious beliefs he will be able to carve out a new career in retail running a Corner shop come off licence where he will be quite happy selling Alchohol and packs of Tulip Smoked Bacon to the rest of us Infidel.....