Taxi Driver Online

Blind groups welcome taxi driver's 'no guide dog' fine

Blind charities have welcomed the conviction of a taxi driver who refused to take a passenger with a guide dog. Nader Rohbani-Eivazi, 49, told Janice Powers he would not take her dog Wayne in his cab from an equality event in Cardiff Bay.

When she protested, he said: "Take me to court". Rohbani-Eivazi was fined £200 with £215 costs by magistrates for breaking disability laws. RNIB Cymru hailed it as a landmark case for "respect and dignity".

Ms Powers, 49, who is blind and has arthritis, had been at the launch of a diversity and equality initiative at the Welsh assembly buildings in Cardiff Bay with Wayne, her six-year-old Labrador retriever.

She was travelling with a visually-impaired colleague from Swansea and her twin sister, Nadine Brodrick, from Swansea, and her sighted guide Rose Casburn-Davies, 48, from Carmarthen.

The four tried to take the taxi to the railway station in time for the last train to Carmarthen, where Ms Powers lives. She said: "It was late and we were cold and wanted to get home, but when approached the lead hackney carriage for a lift the driver just said: "Four people but no dog."

"We were flabbergasted, especially as he had disabled stickers on display. "But when we pointed out that he would be breaking the law if he refused to take my guide dog he just said: "Take me to court". "He wouldn't have it, we were all so upset, it was late and we were in danger of missing the 10pm train."

The group found another driver to take them and Wayne and none missed their train.

Ms Powers contacted Cardiff council and the local authority took out an enforcement action against Rohbani-Eivazi, 49, from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, and provided a council solicitor for the case.

Cardiff, Vales and Valleys Institute for the Blind, RNIB Cymru and Guide Dogs for the Blind also supported the action. Cardiff magistrates found Rohbani-Eivazi guilty of breaking the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

RNIB Cymru director Sarah Rochira said: "I'm delighted that Janice won this case. "There are over 100,000 people in Wales with sight loss, many of whom struggle everyday to lead independent lives.

"We know that being able to get about independently is one of the most important things that people with sight loss want to be able to do. "We also know that there are many people who face problems such as those experienced by Janice."

She added that the verdict sent "a clear message to people providing services - that they must treat people with respect and dignity."

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IDFIMH

What's the problem with taking guide dogs? I don't get this one. Now if it was a wheelchair, I could understand but a guide dog?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

What'swrong with a wheelchair?

I drive a TX1. The vehicle is totally unsuitable for transporting wheelchairs. An ergonomics test carried out by the Health & Safety Executive, concluded that any wheelchair user, weighing more than six and a half stones, present a high risk to the driver. The driver is not properly insured and is therefore, not covered in the event of an accident.

You are on your own.


If anything goes wrong the wheelchair user could end up suing you.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Well this may point you in the right direction

Some Muslims believe dogs are unclean and will not go near them. The major Imams have said that dog are ok, but you can't change the habits of a lifetime overnight.

The sooner we adopt the Australian way of thinking the better

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

What thinkings that?....is it by using Guide Dingo's or to keep the Dog haters out in the first place?

Go to the gym and get stronger then you'll be able to push sub 6 stone people up the ramps into your TX1.

Drivers who refuse guide dogs should lose their badges. If I see any driver refusing a guide dog he'll get both barrels.

Shades of Derek Bird all over again!!! Here we go

It's a not a 'habit' it's a belief. A belief that has been drilled into them since birth, how can you expect them to accept something other than what they believe in. Religion has always been used as a way of controlling people and continues to do so to this day

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

the councillors who allow the rules that force hacks to carry guide dogs should offer to carry them too, or explain to th enext punter why they have dog hairs on thier nice clothes, and mud/crap on thier shoes...

Our country if you don't like living by our rules and standards "F*** Off" out of it

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

Keep it going boys and girls!!!!

I'm sure most councillors would be quite happy to have a guide dog in their vehicle. I would be quite happy to have a guide dog in my vehicle I don't need regulations to make me. As far as I'm concerned 'there for the grace of God goes I'

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Be nice if more people treated us cabbies with a bit of respect and dignity as I don't see a lot of it these days!!