Uber driver fined after refusing passenger with guide dog

11 comments

1. >AN Uber driver has been sentenced by a court after he “simply refused” to accept a passenger with a guide dog.

   >Yasar Rehman Butt had been called to pick up a passenger at Smithy Carr Lane in Brighouse on February 13.

   >But when he realised that his female passenger was visually impaired and uses a guide dog, he refused to transport them.

   >The passenger reported the incident, and Butt, 48, of Brantwood Oval, Bradford, was later charged with “being a private hire vehicle operator who failed to accept a booking by a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog.”

   >On Thursday, Butt appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court, where he admitted the charge and was handed a fine.

   >He told the court he had been “confused” about the company’s policy when it came to guide dogs.

   >Waseem Raja, prosecuting for the Council, showed the court a video taken by the complainant after it had become clear that Butt was not going to let her and her guide dog in the vehicle.

   >The video shows the woman arguing that it is illegal for taxi and private hire drivers to refuse to transport a guide dog.

   >“He has simply refused transport her. Butt was told numerous times he legally can’t refuse a person with a guide dog, and he just carries on refusing then drives away.

   >“He now accepts what he did was wrong. He says he is new as a taxi driver and didn’t know what the requirements were.

   >Magistrates fined Butt £200, and he was ordered to pay the Council’s costs for bringing the case to court – which amounted to £1,360.

   >He will also have to pay an £80 surcharge – in today £1,640.

2. It doesn’t matter that he was new and didn’t know the rules because the woman told him what the rules were and it made no difference, he still refused to take the dog.

3. It wont say this in the article due to political correctness, but the taxi driver was almost certainly of a certain religious persuasion, and that religion considers dogs “unclean”.

4. [deleted]

5. Good that the driver got punished, but why does Uber get away with this?

6. Uber doesn’t care about that. How many drivers have they revoked or reprimanded for this? Ask them for full disclosure The drivers appeal after complaints and are free to do it again with no penalty.

7. To the person that replied to me then deleted No! If a driver has a taxi meter he cannot add fare on unless extras for airport/parking maybe baggage if that particular council allows it.

8. Before I even opened the link, I knew he was likely a Muslim. They have a dislike of dogs. I can’t remember exactly why, but I believe it is to do with cleanliness.

9. I always find it funny, when it comes to stories like this, that the taxi driver could so easily get away with it if he just had the sense not to admit why he’s refusing service.

   Should’ve just said, as soon as he saw the dog “oh sorry, a warning light just lit up on my dash, can’t take you bye now”

10. I think we know why Yasar Rehman refused a dog. They are haram. So it is a conflict between his beliefs and the law.

11. Subconsciously people are going to think certain things about this driver, and other incidents like this.

    Why? Because we pretty much all have mobile phones, and you can spend 30 seconds opening your phone browser and Googling “do taxi drivers have to take guide dogs?” And the answer comes up, and I’m paraphrasing, “Yes, unless the driver has a medical excemption certificate due to allergies”.

    I hope, in all cases brought before court like this, that the barristers/judges point this out and that the case is settled there and then.

    Yes, it’s our culture. We were brought up with it. Logically, we think that it’s part of the job for taxi drivers that they will have to quickly run a portable vacuum over the rear to ensure following passengers, who may have an allergy to dog hair, don’t flare up.

    Religion, or wanting to avoid that post ride vacuuming. We can’t be sure what exactly happened here. Other, non-muslim taxi drivers have been reported for the same refusal to carry service dogs citing the dog hair issue.

    But, it’s going to stir up some hatred in some readers and that’s bad for the future of our multi-cultural society. And every time the Far Right marches in cities they have one more story to ooze from their lips, as they swig from cans of cheap lager and throw punches at the police whilst trying to get at the counter protestors.

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