Taxi driver refused guide dog fare

A taxi driver who refused to take a blind man and his dog in his vehicle has been fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 costs and £100 in compensation at Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

Last September, driver Mohammed Jauffer told Haseeb Ahmad he was allergic to dogs when he came to collect the equality and diversity lead at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

The Leicester Mercury reported Ahmad had asked the driver if he had a medical exemption certificate, but no such document was held. Refusing to take a guide dog is illegal under the Equality Act 2010.

Jauffer has been referred to the city council’s Licensing Enforcement Sub-Committee to decide whether he can keep his Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicle driver’s licence.