Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Example of a Notice
Other duties
The “right of access” all disabled people have to goods, services
of Exemption:
and facilities has now been extended to transport services.
Carriage of Assistance
As well as the duty to carry assistance dogs, you must also
Dogs in Taxis and
ensure that you do not discriminate against disabled people,
SECTION 37A DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1995
treat them less favourably or fail to make a reasonable
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
Private Hire Vehicles
adjustment to your service. More information about these duties
is available from the Accessibility and Equalities Unit (see below).
Name of private hire vehicle licensing authority
Advice for Operators and Drivers
Driver’s full name†
Licence No.†
Further information
The person named above is exempt from carrying guide dogs,
Further information about these duties and making your services
hearing dogs, or assistance dogs in the private hire vehicle specified
at “A” below or in a kind of private hire vehicle specified at “B” below.
more accessible to disabled people can be obtained from:
A
Registration number of specified private hire vehicle*
Accessibility & Equalities Unit
B
Kind of private hire vehicle*
Department for Transport
(a) Private hire vehicle with fixed
SAMPLE
partition segregating the driver
Zone 4/23
from the passenger compartment*
Great Minster House
(b) Private hire vehicle without fixed
partition segregating the driver
76 Marsham Street
from the passenger compartment*
London SW1P 4DR
This notice expires†
20
Tel:
020 7944 8035
ED
*Delete as appropriate
†
Minicom:
020 7944 3277
to be completed
Produced by the Department for Transport. © Crown copyright August 2007. PPU3375.
Fax:
020 7944 6102
E-mail:
[email address]
Web:
www.dft.gov.uk/access
If you forge or alter exemption documents or lend these to
another driver, you will be guilty of an offence and liable, on
Published by DfT. © Crown Copyright 2007.
summary conviction, to a fine currently up to £5,000.You may
Printed in the UK, August 2007 on material containing
also be liable, on conviction, to a term of imprisonment of up to
at least 75% recycled material.
two years, or to a fine and imprisonment.
Product code DP19.
Appeals
If your licensing authority refuses to issue you with an
exemption certificate, you have a right of appeal to the local
Magistrates Court.This right must be exercised within 28 days
from the date of the refusal of the licensing authority to issue
an exemption certificate.
Introduction
Types of dog covered
Exemptions
This guidance is aimed at licensed taxi drivers and private hire
Guide dogs: trained by Guide Dogs to guide a visually impaired
Drivers can seek exemptions from these duties on medical
vehicle (PHV) drivers and operators to explain the legal duties
person.These dogs wear a harness.
grounds only (there is no exemption available for operators).
relating to the carriage of assistance dogs, how these will be
Hearing dogs: trained to assist a deaf person.These dogs wear
The law does not allow for an exemption to be granted on
enforced and how to seek an exemption.
a yellow jacket with the words “Hearing Dog”.
religious grounds.
Duties
Other assistance dogs: those trained by “Dogs for the
If you have a medical condition, such as severe asthma, which
Drivers must:
Disabled”, “Support Dogs” or “Canine Partners” to assist
is aggravated by contact with dogs, or if you are allergic or
• carry assistance dogs accompanying disabled people;
a disabled person with a physical impairment.These dogs
have an acute phobia to dogs, it may be possible for you to
should be wearing a jacket inscribed with the name of the
qualify for an exemption. Applications should be made to your
• do so without additional charge; and
relevant charity.
local licensing authority.
• allow the dog to remain with the passenger.
The owners of all these dogs should also carry an identity card
Your licensing authority will need to verify your medical
Operators must:
with the name of the relevant charity.
condition and may require you to be assessed by an
• accept bookings made by or on behalf of a disabled person
It is important to remember that assistance dogs are highly
appropriate health care professional.The type of vehicle you
who is accompanied by an assistance dog;
trained animals and will remain on the floor of your vehicle.
drive, e.g. whether or not it has a fixed partition segregating
you from the passenger compartment, may also be considered.
• accept bookings made by a person who will be
They are unlikely to damage or dirty it in any way. In the
accompanied in a PHV by such a disabled person; and
unlikely event that they do, it may be reasonable for you to
Successful applicants will be given an exemption certificate and
seek remedy from the dog’s owner.
a Notice of Exemption.
• not make an additional charge for carrying the assistance dog.
The Notice only must be exhibited in your vehicle by fixing it,
Assistance dogs have given many disabled people the
facing outwards, to the near side of the windscreen in the
confidence to travel independently. Disabled people tend to
Failure to comply
holder provided. A bi-lingual Notice is available for drivers
use taxis and PHVs more often than the population as a whole
operating in Wales.
and your services can often be a lifeline.
If you fail to comply with these duties, you will be guilty of
an offence and, on conviction, liable to a fine currently up to
The front of the Notice of Exemption includes the letters
£1,000.The enforcement of these duties is the responsibility
‘
ED’ which stands for ‘Exemption Dogs’.
of your licensing authority.
