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Government warns disability-related taxi and private hire surcharges could lead to £1,000 fines
Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers and operators who charge wheelchair users additional fees because of their disability could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, the Government has warned.
Local licensing authorities have been reminded that they are responsible for enforcing the relevant non-discrimination provisions and should consider suspending or revoking licences when allegations do not result in a criminal conviction.
The position was set out in a parliamentary response to Shivani Raja, Conservative MP for Leicester East. Raja asked what steps the Department for Transport was taking to ensure councils enforce provisions under the Equality Act 2010 when taxi and private hire operators charge additional clamping fees or surcharges to users of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Responding, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: “The Government is committed to ensuring that disabled people can access taxi and private hire vehicle services without discrimination.”
He added: “Drivers and operators who add fees or surcharges based on disability face prosecution and fines of up to £1,000.”
Responsibility for pursuing suspected breaches rests with the relevant licensing authority. The Department for Transport’s best-practice guidance calls on councils to investigate allegations and take cases forward when sufficient evidence is available.
Lightwood said: “Local licensing authorities are responsible for enforcing these provisions. Departmental best practice guidance makes clear that authorities should thoroughly investigate and prosecute offences where breaches are identified, and that where a complaint about discrimination is received that will not result in a conviction, licensing authorities should consider regulatory sanctions such as license suspension or revocation.”
