Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver fined more than £1,000 after refusing to pick up passenger with assistance dog in Milton Keynes

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/peo ... es-5405647

A taxi driver has been fined more than £1,000 after refusing to pick up a passenger, who was accompanied by an assistance dog, in Milton Keynes.

The driver, identified only as Mr Musthafa, has been fined a total of £1,367 after the incident, which took place at Benbow Court in Shenley Church End.

After an investigation, Milton Keynes City Council found the driver, whose licence is now being reviewed by West Northants Council, had driven past the passenger and made no attempt to pick her up.

Mr Musthafa was found guilty under two pieces of the Equality Act 2010.

For the first breach Milton Keynes Magistrates Court fined him £405, and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £162 and costs of £600.

In relation to the breach of the second part of the act, Mr Musthafa was ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the victim by the court, instead of being issued with a fine.

Under UK law, it is an offence under the Equality Act 2010 for taxi drivers to refuse passengers with assistance dogs unless they have a valid medical exemption.

Speaking following the case, cabinet member for regulatory services at Milton Keynes City Council Mick Legg said: “People who rely on assistance dogs need support and should never face discrimination.

“This law exists to protect their independence and ensure they can travel safely and with dignity.

“We expect drivers to maintain the highest standards and will not hesitate to take action when these are not met.

“If anyone has experienced similar treatment, I encourage them to get in touch so we can investigate.”

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IDFIMH

wtaf?

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

Think this was raised previously, but never properly answered - presumably this means that the responsibility for prosecutions lies with what happens within a local authority's territorial area, as opposed to who it licences?

So West Northants Council wouldn't have been able to prosecute?

A council has no powers to prosecute a matter that occurred outside of its licensing area.

They could review a driver's 'fit and proper' status for those non-local actions; however, they couldn't prosecute.

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IDFIMH

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

Don't think there's anything new here, except for the fact that after he's been revoked after the licensing council 'reviewed' his licence after the prosecution...


Taxi driver who refused to pick up passenger with assistance dog in Milton Keynes has licence revoked

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/peo ... ed-5440102

A taxi driver who refused to pick up a passenger in Milton Keynes, who was accompanied by an assistance dog, has had his licence revoked.

Fairas Musthafa, was fined a total of £1,367 by Milton Keynes Magistrates Court after the incident, which took place at Benbow Court in Shenley Church End.

West Northamptonshire Council confirmed to National World that following a licensing meeting, Mr Musthafa’s licence was revoked.

He has 21 days, from December 11, to appeal the decision to Milton Keynes Magistrates Court.

The case was pursued through the courts after Milton Keynes City Council found Mr Musthafa had driven past the passenger and made no attempt to pick her up.

He was found guilty under two pieces of the Equality Act 2010, with magistrates fining him £405 for the first breach, and ordering him to pay a victim surcharge of £162 and costs of £600.

In relation to the second breach, Mr Musthafa was ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the victim by the court, instead of being issued with a fine.

Under the Equality Act 2010 it is an offence for taxi drivers to refuse passengers with assistance dogs unless they have a valid medical exemption.