Taxi Driver Online

Kirklees' taxi drivers face disciplinary action over guide dogs


Special operation targets cabbies in town

Three Huddersfield taxi drivers face disciplinary action over guide dogs.

They were caught out when police and Kirklees Council licensing officers mounted a special operation.

They tried to take a number of journeys in cabs with blind campaigner David Quarmby and his guide dog Mick, and found several refused to allow the dog into their vehicle.

Mr Quarmby, of Newsome, chairs Kirklees Visual Impairment Network (KVIN).

Earlier this year the 65-year-old campaigner insisted some taxi firms in Kirklees were flouting laws over allowing guide dogs in cabs.

The retired probation officer said that some taxi firms would question passengers when told there was a guide dog and may send a minibus instead of a car.

As a result blind passengers, often travelling with family and friends, could face extra delays.

Since 2003, when amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act came into force, hackney carriage and private hire drivers have been banned from refusing to carry blind people simply because they are accompanied by their dog.

Special Constables from Rural and Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing teams worked together with Kirklees Council Licensing officers on the operation.

Two of the taxis refused to let the guide dog travel in the car, a decision which does not comply with the Equality Act 2010.

A police spokesman said: “These drivers will be dealt with by Kirklees Licensing Department”.

The move was welcomed on social media.

Suzanne Marie Lisle said: “I used to drive taxis and this is ridiculous!

“Don’t blind and partially sighted people have enough to deal with?

“I always let dogs in my car, a lot of the guys I worked with wouldn’t let dogs in their cars, saying that dogs were dirty. I never had a dog misbehaving in my taxi, and I certainly had drunks acting like jerks. I would much rather have had dogs than some people”.

David Blundell said: “Take their licence off them and ban from ever getting one again”.

source: http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yor ... ry-9730230

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

you have to wonder what century we're actually in, who in their right minds refuses a guide dog?

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

i had a guide dog that refused to get in my car , the wife was shoving it in the font footwell but it wouldn't budge,in the meantime, it decided to scratch all my leather while she was shoving it so that's that then , i don't pick her up anymore , not my fault though

People who have no concern about others less fortunate.

In other words ***** that need to leave our trade.

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IDFIMH

or respect there vehicles ?? i certainly don't want a stinking dog slavering allover my car , who`s the next punter? someone going for a interview & gets covered in dog hairs ? na not for me , you lot will do anything for a fast buck tbh , sadly that's the "trait" of a taxi driver

And if licencing do a test purchase on you it will be by by, after you have paid the court around £1000

Remind me how many times a blind/hearing dog has done that to a car of yours?

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IDFIMH

You'll find that guide dogs are trained to sit on the floor in the front, they don't slaver unlike some of the punters we pick up, they don't smell unlike some of the punters we pick up.

You're in the wrong trade and you need a good thrashing with a dog lead.

well, the actual dog in question absolutely stinks, she goes to the pub daily, im sorry she cant even take care of herself tbh never mind the dog !!, so in answer to your question about 5 times in the old car, none in this one though, its a guide dog not a hearing one for the record what are you saying then ? everyone who has a guide/hearing dog is a excellent example of a dog owner then ? you are sadly wrong mate ,i actually feel sorry for the poor dog on the way home when shes "lashed" shes a horrible c**t tbh & will never get in my car , you will be upset at the fare i knocked back today also , a 1 legged woman in a wheelchair going to hospital, went to collect she came out, i opened the front door, she hopped in the front seat then i went to fold her wheelchair, it was absolutely disgusting , filthy dirty with bits of food all over it , i just told her i wasn't taking her & ordered another car, , i like to keep my car clean, is it such a sin??

On the Subject of blind folk I stopped on the other side of the Road waiting to turn into the Petrol station forecourt today and waited until a blind guy with a white stick crossed the fourcourt entrance...the odd thing was he looked over in my direction and gave me a nice wave of thanks..how'd he know it was me stopping for him.

Not everyone who is registerd blind is totally blind he may have had very limited vision.

Smell ?

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Bazzels perfume gave the game away