LICENCE REVOKED AND FINED: Uber driver found guilty of refusing guide dog passenger
- Perry Richardson
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A private hire driver has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after refusing a fare because the passenger had a guide dog.
Mohamed Abid Hussain, 42, pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court to three offences: failing to carry an assistance dog, failing to wear his private hire driver’s badge, and failing to return the badge after his licence was revoked.
The incident took place on Wednesday 18 February, when Mr Hussain was working via the Uber app. He accepted a job from Grafton Street to a city centre train station. The passenger, who is blind and relies on a guide dog, had booked the ride to catch a train home to London.
When Mr Hussain arrived, he refused to take the passenger, telling her that she could not bring her “pet” into the car. The passenger explained that her dog was a guide dog, clearly marked by its high-visibility harness, but Mr Hussain still declined the fare. She later reported the refusal to Manchester City Council.
Council officers interviewed Mr Hussain about the refusal. He told them he had not realised the dog was a guide dog. The case was reviewed by the Council’s Licensing Sub Committee, where Mr Hussain admitted the facts and confirmed he had no medical condition or religious exemption that would prevent him from transporting a guide dog.
The committee determined that Mr Hussain had unlawfully discriminated against a disabled passenger and revoked his private hire licence.
At court, Mr Hussain was fined £100 and ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim.
Under the Equality Act 2010, licensed taxi and private hire drivers must carry guide and other assistance dogs unless they have been issued with an exemption certificate. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.
Cllr Rose Thompson, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Safety said: “We thank this customer for bringing the matter to our attention. On receiving the complaint, we were appalled at the discrimination faced by her. We are pleased that action has now been taken. Taxi drivers in Trafford are expected to uphold proper standards and abide by the law.”
