Taxi driver too ‘afraid of’ guide dog

A TAXI driver refused to drive a visually impaired man and his guide dog into Birmingham, a court heard.

Abdul Khalik would not take Jason Lane, his dog Crispin and two friends from Bearwood to the city centre.

Walsall magistrates were told Khalik gave various reasons for the refusal, including being allergic and scared of dogs.

Khalik, 42, of Crompton Road, Handsworth, was found guilty of refusing to carry out a booking made by a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog contrary to the Equality Act 2010. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay Sandwell Council’s £1,030 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge. He was also dismissed from his job.

The court was told how Mr Lane, aged 48, who is registered blind after losing his sight 11 years ago, rang Premier Cars in Langley in May 2017 for a cab.

Mr Lane 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. 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.”

Khalik, who defended himself through an interpreter, claimed he was scared and allergic to dogs, but he did not have an exemption certificate which would allow him to legally decline to carry an assistance dog.

The prosecution was brought by Sandwell Council’s taxi licensing team