Uber driver prosecuted for refusing Guide Dog

An Uber driver has been fined by Birmingham magistrates after refusing to allow a visually impaired man and his guide dog into his vehicle.

Mohammed Waqas, 29 of Winson Green,  pleaded guilty after the court heard how the Uber customer, who is registered blind, ordered the private hire vehicle via the app on his mobile phone to pick him up from Queens Alexandra College in Harborne back in June 2017.

Upon arrival at his pick-up point, Waqas then refused to take man because of his guide dog,  claiming that he was scared of dogs after being bitten by one.

The prosecution then described how the visually impaired customer asked Waqas if he was aware of the law surrounding the carriage of assistance dogs, to which the defendant claimed that he did.

Waqas told the court that he was sorry as to how he treated the man, he also admitted that he should have applied for an exemption certificate regarding the carriage of dogs.

Waqas was fined £250, ordered to pay costs of £614, a £30 victim surcharge and also pay the victim £60 compensation. 

Waqas has since been dismissed by Uber.