Glasgow Taxi Driver’s Licence Suspended for Guide Dog Refusal

A private hire taxi driver in Glasgow has had his licence suspended for one month after refusing to take a guide dog in his vehicle. The driver, Javid Iqbal, claimed he had an allergy but failed to provide legal documentation to support his exemption. A similar incident occurred when a Glasgow man's guide dog was refused by a taxi while he was on his way to a funeral, raising concerns about accessibility issues in the taxi industry.

Legal Obligation to Accept Assistance Dogs

Under UK law, taxi and private hire drivers must accept passengers with assistance dogs unless they hold an official exemption certificate. The incident occurred in November last year when Colin Hetherington, a director at Deafblind Scotland, booked a taxi to attend a funeral. Upon arrival, Mr. Iqbal refused to transport the guide dog, stating he had an allergy. However, when asked by the Glasgow licensing committee to provide medical proof, he admitted he had no certificate and no longer suffered from allergies.

Complaint and Committee Decision

Mr. Hetherington reported the incident to the taxi and private hire enforcement unit. He also questioned the driver about his legal exemption.

Colin Hetherington said:

"I asked to see the driver's certificate of exemption, which he legally has to carry with him."

The Glasgow licensing and regulatory committee reviewed the complaint, with councillors ultimately deciding to suspend Mr. Iqbal’s licence for a month. Councillor Alex Wilson emphasized that the guide dog's attire was irrelevant to the matter. Only one councillor, Sean Ferguson, opposed the suspension.

”It didn't matter whether the dog had a jacket on or not," councillor Wilson stated.