Taxi Driver Online

Hertfordshire taxi firm refused to take booking from passenger who had an assistance dog



A taxi firm who refused to take a booking from a passenger with a guide dog has been ordered to pay out more than £900.

Rainbow Travel, who have a booking office at Apsley Railway Station, told the passenger that all of their cars were busy when advised that they would be travelling with an assistance dog, having initially agreed to dispatch a vehicle.

Company director Imtiaz Ahmed pleaded guilty to charges under the Equality Act 2010 at St Albans Magistrates Court on Wednesday (April 26).

The firm was ordered to pay more than £900 in fines, costs and victim surcharge, and will now face a review of its operating licence. After the hearing, Dacorum Borough Council’s licensing team leader Ross Hill said: “Taxis and private hire vehicles provide a vital service for people with disabilities, and it is wholly unacceptable that a taxi company should discriminate against any passenger with an assistance dog by refusing a booking.

“Incidents of this type can cause significant distress to passengers, and we trust that this penalty will act to deter any future occurrences.

“The council is committed to ensuring that our licensed taxis and private hire vehicles are accessible to all, and we will not hesitate to take action.

”Private hire operators, private hire drivers and taxi drivers cannot refuse fares which involve carrying assistance dogs, nor charge extra for the journey. Doing so is a criminal offence, and can be punished with fines of up to £1,000.

Drivers with genuine and serious medical conditions affected by dogs can apply to the council for a medical exemption certificate, but will only be exempted from the legal duty to carry assistance dogs if the certificate is on display in the vehicle – to date, no exemption certificates have been issued to any Dacorum driver.

If you have been refused a journey by a taxi, private hire vehicle or private hire operator due to a disability or presence of an assistance dog, email to licensing@dacorum.gov.uk

Read more at: http://www.tringtoday.co.uk/news/hertfo ... -1-7938035

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

I don't think that statement is quite right. There may be other reasons to refuse a passenger with an assistance dog other than the dog itself. The passenger may be drunk for example.

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Grandad,

and if you are booked solid and the only way to accept that passenger was to leave another stranded ? would you not be in serious trouble with the council for that

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Yes they can, such as they can't do it because they are to busy, away on holiday, cars broken down, rich auntie aggies coming round for tea and can't be missed....theres a Million reasons operators can't do any given run for any given group.

How can they prove otherwise?

[quote="edders23"]and if you are booked solid and the only way to accept that passenger was to leave another stranded ? would you not be in serious trouble with the council for that[/quote

It states they initially accepted the booking and then changed their mind when they were informed of an assistance dog, a clear case of discrimination.

Clearly if you agree to dispatch a vehicle and then change your mind once you realise there is an assistance dog involved you are in breach of your operator licence, it's that simple.

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

dunno about that like, could have saved all the bother just by saying we will sent a car for you, we are busy so could be a hour or so, they probably wouldn't wait , that's all i used to do when i stood in on the desk for chit jobs, can we not have a sub forum for,

They refused me because i had a dog
They refused me because i had a wheelchair etc..etc..
call it "crawl up my arse" !