Taxi driver fined for refusing to take a disabled woman home.
A TEESSIDE taxi driver has been fined after he refused to take a 24- year-old woman in a wheelchair home - even though his vehicle was wheelchair accessible. Rafiq Latif, of Cambridge Road, Middlesbrough, was working in his hackney carriage taxi in Corporation Road in the town on the night of Friday, February 5 ,this year.
A woman in a wheelchair went up to his taxi and asked to be taken home. However he refused saying his ramps were broken. He told the woman the only way he would take her home is if she could get out of the wheelchair. The passenger was left shocked and upset by the refusal and reported the matter to Middlesbrough Council's licensing section after taking his number.
A full investigation was made by the council and legal proceedings were brought against Latif for refusing to carry a passenger without a reasonable excuse. He appeared before Teesside magistrates and pleaded not guilty to the offence. However after a trial he was found guilty and convicted. He was fined £250, ordered to pay £250 costs to the council and had to pay a £15 victim surcharge.
Councillor Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council's Executive member for community protection, said: "The refusal to carry the passenger in this case was disgraceful and reprehensible." She added: "This prosecuting should serve as a warning that such conduct will not be tolerated."
Pat Davies, of the Middlesbrough Physical Disabilities Reference Group, said: "This is wonderful news. Disabled people often have problems with the service we receive on transport and this is a positive way forward. Well done to Middlesbrough Council for pursuing the matter and let's hope it sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate this form of discrimination."
A spokesman for the Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association, said: "Firstly we would like to apologise on behalf of the taxi trade to the lady in question. Conduct like this gives the trade a bad name. The vast majority of our members pride themselves on assisting all passengers and many drivers have regular customers who are wheelchair users because of the high standard of service they provide. Thankfully incidents like this are rare."