[fcb-l] Blind People being Ignored by Cab Drivers

[Shelley Justice]

The list of reasons why I wouldn't want to live in Miami continues to grow. 

Shelley J. 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Patricia A. Lipovsky 
  To: fcb-l at acb.org 
  Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 12:25 PM
  Subject: [fcb-l] Blind People being Ignored by Cab Drivers


  Blind People Say Cab Drivers Ignore Them
  Cab Company Says It's Not Illegal Not To Stop

  POSTED: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
  UPDATED: 7:37 am EDT March 17,2010
  Source: 
  http://www.justnews.com/news/22856062/detail.html

  MIAMI -- Getting around South Florida is nearly impossible for
  blind members of our community. Some people say that instead of
  stopping, cab drivers knowingly pass blind people by.

  Video
  Miami Beach resident David New told Local 10 that, nine out of 10
  times, when he is hailing a cab, the driver refuses to stop.

  New said that cab drivers who did stop often told him, "'No dogs
  in my cab.'"

  State and federal laws say that service animals must be permitted
  to accompany any individual with a disability wherever the
  general public is allowed to go. It is against the Americans with
  Disabilities Act for a taxicab driver to refuse to pick someone
  up because of a service animal.

  Local 10 cameras accompanied New to Collins Avenue and 13th
  Street in Miami. Several empty cabs slowed down and then the
  drivers looked and took off.

  The general manager of Super Yellow Cab said drivers are not
  required to stop.

  "There is nothing illegal about not stopping," he said. "By law,
  it's not mandatory for them to stop at any passenger on the
  street, especially if they feel it could be a dangerous job."

  Miami-Dade Consumer Affairs licenses cab drivers in the county. A
  spokesperson said a driver who fails to pick up person because of
  a guide dog could be fined or suspended.

  "This is part of their training. It's ingrained in them during
  their training. The issue is thoroughly covered. They can't claim
  ignorance," said Consumer Affairs spokeswoman Sonya Perez.

  "Hopefully people will start to understand this is really
  discrimination," New said.

  The CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind recently had an
  incident at Miami International Airport. Virginia Jacko said a
  cab driver refused to take her and her guide dog to Coconut
  Grove.

  "The county employee who was helping me tried to tell him he had
  to take me. They got into a shouting match and were screaming at
  each other," Jacko said.

  To file a complaint with Miami-Dade Consumer Services, visit the
  Miami-Dade County Web site.

  _______________________________________________
  ***"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't_ you're right."
  Have a great day, and Keep Smiling  


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