By Caroline Lowbridge
A TAXI driver who said religion forbade him from carrying a blind man and his guide dog has been fined.
Ali Reza Roshanmoniri later said he was allergic to animal hair and did not realise he needed a certificate making him exempt from carrying guide dogs.
The taxi was booked with Cable Cars, based in Beeston, for Christopher Odell, a voluntary counsellor who had been working at Sunnyside School in Chilwell.
The job was accepted by the firm, but when Roshanmoniri arrived at the school on the afternoon of August 27 he refused to take Mr Odell and his dog.
This broke the conditions of the licence he was granted by Broxtowe Borough Council, who yesterday prosecuted Roshanmoniri for failing to carry a disabled person with a dog, an offence under the Disability Discrimination Act.
John Cunliffe, representing the council, told Nottingham Magistrates Court: "Most of the operators are aware that Mr Odell is blind and accompanied by his guide dog.
"On seeing Mr Odell's guide dog he said it was against his religion to carry dogs in his vehicle. It was explained to him that the dog was a working dog and could not be refused carriage." Read more ...
A TAXI driver who said religion forbade him from carrying a blind man and his guide dog has been fined.
Ali Reza Roshanmoniri later said he was allergic to animal hair and did not realise he needed a certificate making him exempt from carrying guide dogs.
The taxi was booked with Cable Cars, based in Beeston, for Christopher Odell, a voluntary counsellor who had been working at Sunnyside School in Chilwell.
The job was accepted by the firm, but when Roshanmoniri arrived at the school on the afternoon of August 27 he refused to take Mr Odell and his dog.
This broke the conditions of the licence he was granted by Broxtowe Borough Council, who yesterday prosecuted Roshanmoniri for failing to carry a disabled person with a dog, an offence under the Disability Discrimination Act.
John Cunliffe, representing the council, told Nottingham Magistrates Court: "Most of the operators are aware that Mr Odell is blind and accompanied by his guide dog.
"On seeing Mr Odell's guide dog he said it was against his religion to carry dogs in his vehicle. It was explained to him that the dog was a working dog and could not be refused carriage." Read more ...
Source: The Evening Standard
 |
Posts
