Taxi driver who REFUSED to pick up blind man and his dog forced to pay more than £1k
A taxi driver who refused to pick up a blind man and his guide dog as he claimed he was allergic and scared has been made to pay more than £1,000.
Jason Lane and dog Crispin were made to order another taxi after Abdul Khalik said he would not take them from his home in Bearwood, Smethwick, into Birmingham city centre.
They were on their way to celebrate Jason’s mother’s birthday with a meal and a show – meaning she was left alone in the rain while they waited for another taxi.
Mr Lane, aged 48, who is registered blind after losing his sight 11 years ago, said: “It was really frustrating. I had my 84-year-old mum waiting for me in Birmingham and the taxi was already late – then when he arrived, he literally just drove off.
“The reasons the taxi driver gave for not picking me up were ridiculous – first he said he was allergic and then he said he was scared of dogs."
Responsibilities
He continued: “This law has been place for years and taxi drivers should know their responsibilities. If taxi drivers don’t like dogs or are scared of dogs, they’re in the wrong job.
“Disabled people rely on their dogs and by refusing to take my dog in the taxi, he was refusing to take me as well.”
Mr Lane said he regularly used the taxi company Premier Cars in Langley, Oldbury, and had never had a problem travelling with Crispin before.
Taxi driver Khalik, 42, of Crompton Road, Handsworth, defended himself through an interpreter at Walsall Magistrates Court.
Khalik denied refusing to have an assistance dog in his car but claimed he was both allergic and frightened of dogs, though he did not have an exemption certificate which would allow him to legally decline to carry an assistance dog. He claimed he didn’t want the dog to sit in the front and that he drove away as there was a car behind him that couldn’t get past.
Guilty
Khalik was found guilty of failure/refusal to carry out a booking made by a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog contrary to sec 170 (3)(b) Equality Act 2010 2010. He surrendered his taxi licence after the matter was reported to the council's taxi licensing team.
He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay Sandwell Council’s £1,030 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “Assistance dogs are vital for the independence of visually impaired people and they deserve to be treated properly – and that includes them being able to travel with their owner in taxis.
“I’d like to thank Jason and his friend David for being very good witnesses and helping the council secure this prosecution - and also Premier Cars who fully cooperated with our taxi licensing team and dismissed the driver when the complaint came to light."
