Cabbie fined for refusing to take passenger's guide dog

A licensed taxi driver from Henley-in-Arden has been fined £100 for refusing to take a fare paying customer and her guide dog at the new Warwick Justice Centre in Leamington Spa last week.

The court heard that on Friday 28 May, Mr Christopher David Parker of 2 Greengates, Bear Lane, Henley was on the taxi rank at Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-Avon plying for hire and was approached by the son of Mrs Margaret Keyte, who is registered blind and uses an assistance dog, Heidi, for mobility.

Mr Parker refused to take the dog and drove quickly from the rank leaving Mrs Keyte and her family standing at the rank.  Mrs Keyte subsequently informed Stratford-on-Avon District Council as the Licensing Authority.

At the hearing Mr Parker was fined £100 with £200 costs and £15 Victim Surcharge.

Mrs Margaret Keyte says: “I've been blind for over 30 years this is not the first time that I have been discriminated against by a taxi driver.  I could have been left stranded had I been on my own but thankfully I was with my family and my son arranged another taxi for me.  This taxi driver's actions made me feel inferior and humiliated.  It can also be quite frightening to meet with this sort of behaviour."

Under the Equalities Act 2010 any driver who refuses to take wheelchair users or passengers with a guide dog is committing a criminal offence.