Liverpool City Council licensed private hire driver convicted for refusing assistance dog
- Perry Richardson
- 9 minutes ago
- 1 min read
A Liverpool private hire vehicle (PHV) driver has been convicted after refusing to carry an assistance dog.
Liverpool City Council confirmed that the driver appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this week and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £318.
The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for taxi and PHV drivers to refuse a booking or journey because a passenger is accompanied by an assistance dog. These dogs are trained to support people with a range of disabilities, including sight and hearing impairments, and must be allowed to travel at no extra charge.
Drivers are also not permitted to insist that the dog is secured in the boot or a separate part of the vehicle. The law requires that the animal can travel with its owner in the passenger compartment.
The only exemption applies to drivers who have obtained a medical certificate confirming they are unable to carry dogs for health reasons, such as severe allergies. These exemptions must be applied for and granted by the local licensing authority.
Local authorities across the UK regularly remind drivers of their responsibilities, with licensing conditions making clear that refusal to carry an assistance dog is treated as a serious offence. Convictions can lead not only to fines but also to review of a driver’s licence.
A council licensing spokesperson said: “A Liverpool PHV driver was convicted in Liverpool Magistrates Court this week for refusing to take an assistance dog and will have to pay fines and costs totalling £318. It is an offence under the Equality Act 2010 for a licensed driver to refuse transport to an assistance dog.”
