taxis and registered assistance dogs - Disability Discrimination

Dear Sir

Thank you for your request which is receiving attention.

Kevin Carr
Legal and Democratic Services

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Dear Mr Heaton

Further to my earlier e-mail please see below for the Council's response
to your request for information ;

1. what arrangements you make to ensure that taxi drivers licensed
by the council do not refuse to carry a passenger who has a
registered assistance dog (you will I hope be aware that this
extends substantially beyond Guide Dogs).

All drivers are aware of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and are
fully aware that
they must carry all assistance dogs at all times or they commit an
offence. They are advised when they first
pass the knowledge test the law relating to the carrying of assistance
dogs.

2. How many instances you are aware of where there have been such
refusals, and the reasons why.

One driver has refused to carry assistance dogs because of a medical
problem however
he has now been issued with a exemption certificate.

3. How many complaints you have had about this and how you have
dealt with them.

There has been 2 complaints since 2001 and both drivers were private
hire drivers. However the complainants
refused to give a statement and did not want the matter to go any
further.
Both drivers were advised that if they failed to carry assistance dogs
in the future it may result in prosecution
under Section 37 and 37a of the DDA.

4. How your council meets its obligations in this respect under
Disability Discrimination legislation, to ensure that people with a
registered assistance dog are not refused by taxi drivers.

The Council has a duty during the licensing process to educate all
drivers on certain legislation that effect
them on a day to day basis. They are made aware of the DDA and the
offence of failing to carry assistance dogs without
carrying an exemption. The DDA allows exemptions from carrying
assistance dogs and Crawley Borough Council will seek to ensure that all
exemptions are fully supported by the drivers general practitioner.
There are currently 104 hackney carriage vehicles and 569 private hire
vehicles licenced with Crawley Borough Council and currently only one
exemption exists.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kevin Carr
Legal and Democratic Services

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