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BRADFORD PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FINED FOR REFUSING TO CARRY ASSISTANCE DOG


A Bradford private hire driver has refused to pick up a disabled woman with her asistance dog. Tanveer Ahmed, 51, pleaded guilty as a private hire vehicle driver who failed or refused to carry out a booking for a disabled person


accompanied by an assistance dog at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court. Ahmed was given a job by his operator at Green Lane, in the Armley area of Leeds on May 4 this year. But he refused to carry out the booking because the woman


would be accompanied by an assistance dog. Ahmed was ordered to pay £1,090 in total, including a £64 fine, a surcharge of £34 to fund victim services and £992 in costs. It must be paid by November 28.


WREXHAM CABBIE PROSECUTED AND FINED FOR REFUSING TO TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE DOG


A Wrexham cabbie has been prosecuted after he refused to transport two blind customers as they were accompanied by an assistance dog. Ali Raza Kiani was prosecuted and fined £200 and ordered to pay £1,080 costs for the offence, which occurred late at night in January 2022. Wrexham Magistrates’ Court heard that the customers had booked the vehicle to get home from Wrexham. When Mr Kiani arrived at the pick-up destination he refused to allow the dog into the vehicle on the grounds “that the vehicle has leather seats”. The customers were fully aware of their rights under equality legis- lation and informed the driver that he would be committing an offence if he refused to transport the dog. They informed him that they would keep the dog off the seats. Mr Kiani called his operator, Speedy Cars to send another vehicle, however, he then drove off and left the customers. When interviewed by Council Licensing Officers, Mr Kiani claimed that he did not know that the dog was a guide dog. The court


PHTM DECEMBER 2022


heard that the dog was wearing its high visibility harness and reflective ‘guide dog’ identification badge at the time of the incident. The court also heard witness testimonies from the customers who attended Court with the dog. The legislation allows drivers with a pre-approved “medical exemp- tion certificate” to refuse to carry dogs, if it impairs their health, however Mr Kiani did not have any medical exemption. He was found guilty of the offence of refusing to transport a customer with a guide dog, contrary to the Equality Act 2010. Councillor Terry Evans, Lead Member for Planning and Public Protection, said “Taxi and Private Hire Operators have clear


responsibilities under the Equality Act, which protects the right of people with disabilities. It is completely unacceptable for a driver to refuse to transport a passenger with an assistance dog.” Meanwhile the government recently reaffirmed its com- mittment to mandatory disability awareness training for cabbies in a response to a question to the Secretary of State for Transport from Vicky Foxcroft, Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions). Jesse Norman Minister of State (DfT) responded: “The Government has committed to introducing mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and PHV drivers through new National Minimum Standards for licensing authorities when Parliamentary time allows. “The Government recently con- sulted on revised Best Practice Guidance for licensing authorities in England, which included a stronger recommendation that every driver is required to complete disability awareness training. The Government’s response to this consultation will be published in due course, along with the final version of the guidance.”


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