Taxi driver who refused to carry guide dogs fined

Nozir Rahman admitted an offence under the Equality Act.

A taxi driver who refused to allow two blind customers to get into his vehicle with their guide dogs has been fined £200.

Nozir Rahman, 31, arrived at Chester Railway Station to collect the passengers, but drove away after saying they could not put their dogs in the car.

The passengers had told the firm employing Rahman, KingKabs, that they had assistance dogs when they made the booking, according to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

KingKabs reported Rahman to the local authority's licensing team, which charged him with an offence under section 170 of the Equality Act.

The council said Rahman, from Chester, gave three different reasons for not carrying the dogs to the complainants, to the taxi company and then to officers of the council when he was interviewed.

He pleaded guilty to the offence at Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 10 September and was also ordered to pay £300 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge on top of the fine.

Taxi drivers have a legal obligation to accept assistance dogs unless they have a specific medical exemption certificate, and are made aware of the requirements during their training.

The council said Rahman must now appear before its general licensing sub-committee, which will consider whether he is "fit and proper" to hold a taxi licence.