A visually-impaired woman from Arnold is calling for taxi and minicab drivers to face tougher sentences if caught illegally turning away passengers with guide dogs.
Mel Griffiths this week visited parliament with over 100 other guide dog owners to demand harsher punishments and more convictions for drivers who don’t allow passengers with guide dogs to use their service.
Taxi and minicab drivers who refuse to take a guide dog can have their licence removed or be fined up to £1,000 (plus costs) in court. However, Mel believes that penalties aren’t being used effectively enough to act as a deterrent.
She said: “Sadly taxi refusals are becoming more of a regular occurrence, despite the law clearly stating that hire car vehicles need to take guide dogs.
“Even though I mention that I have a guide dog with me when I book the taxi the drivers still refuse me and my guide dog Hudson entry into the vehicle.
“At times I’ve been left at the side of the road because they’ve not wanted to take us. This can be distressing and especially of concern when it’s an area that you don’t know or if it’s dark.
“I hope the lobby day and this research will raise awareness of the issue and help educate people about the law regarding assistance dogs and access.”
The Guide Dogs Charity have joined the campaigning to change the fact that the fines issued to drivers who refuse guide dogs are often no higher than those given to people who dodge train fares or evade TV licences.
Research carried out by the charity showed that prosecutions are rare and fines are low, with some local authorities reporting fines as low as £50 to £100.
James White, Senior Campaigns Manager, at Guide Dogs said: “Imagine you were turned away by a driver.
This happens to people living with sight loss with shocking regularity just because they are accompanied by a guide dog.
It’s not only illegal, it knocks people’s confidence and stops them doing the everyday things that most people take for granted.
“Licencing authorities and magistrates aren’t effectively using the powers they have to prosecute taxi and minicab drivers who flout the law.
“In most cases drivers are simply given a warning and, on the rare occasions the cases go to court, fines are woefully inadequate.
“We want tougher sentences for drivers who turn away assistance dog owners.”
