Taxi Driver Online

Taxi refusal warning
By Press reporter
TAXI drivers in Selby have been warned off refusing to take fares from vulnerable customers.

Over the last month, drivers refused to pick up a woman with learning difficulties, and a man in a wheelchair, according to Selby district licensing officer Tim Grogan.

"From our point of view, we license drivers on behalf of the council in order that they provide a service," he said.

continued...
"It is incumbent on them to serve the public. They are only allowed to refuse a customer service on reasonable grounds, for instance if the customer is drunk, or abusive, or covered in blood, that kind of thing.

"Just like you can't refuse to take someone because of the colour of their skin, you can't refuse them if they're disabled."

Mr Grogan said two less experienced drivers were involved in the incidents. The drivers appeared before the licensing committee and were warned about their conduct.

Coun Ruth Sayner, licensing committee chairwoman, said: "During these hearings we learned that this type of unlawful conduct may be more common that we realised.

"If further instances of drivers refusing to take passengers arise, the committee will look to take action to ensure this unacceptable behaviour is eradicated.

"The vast majority of taxi drivers in Selby district operate within their licences, and would not think of refusing a fare on unreasonable grounds. But we must take action against those that do, to ensure the public receives the service it deserves."

Terry Smith, treasurer of Selby DIAL (Disabled Information Advice Line), said: "In the past, we've had words with Selby district and we fully support them in action against drivers who won't take disabled fares.

"It's totally against the Disability Discrimination Act, and it takes us back to the attitudes people had about the disabled a decade ago."

Failure to comply with regulations about picking up passengers can result in the council's licensing committee revoking a taxi licence, and the driver even appearing in court.

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

oops I think sussex posted this one

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

I want to take this comment in isolation and distance it from the overal tenor of the article.

I would like to remind this LO that the law states he has no discretion in refusing a license unless a person is deemed not to be fit and proper and even then a magistrate or the Crown court will have the final say.

The LO is there to issue licenses, he is not there to tell Taxi drivers how to operate the way they work.

Providing a service has nothing whatsoever to do with a council, the sooner we take licensing away from these people the better.

Regards

JD

CC

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