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

Sat Mar 20 23:59:01 GMT 2010

Victor, I can imagine it most likely is going on in every City and town all 
over America and around the world for that matter! I live in Orlando, but I 
am for the most part fortunate enough not to have to Rely on Cabs to often 
without calling first! I didn't kmow that the cab drivers in Orlando were 
one of the worst, but it truly doesn't surprise me any! I have never been 
taken advantage from anyone either  since I lost my sight except from cab 
drivers as far as trying to get away with cab fare fraud! What they don't 
realize now however, is that with many of us having gps capability, we can 
realize right up front how many miles it takes to go from point A to point B 
which helps us tremendously with keeping our fare costs honest and accurate! 
At least my encounter with a fraudulent cab driver only happened once many 
years ago, but my wife had whispered  to me what was on the meter before she 
got out of the cab  while the driver was taking our luggage out of the 
trunk. When I asked him what our fare was, he had jacked the fare up $7!  I 
explained to him that he was going to get a decent tip before he tried to 
take advantage of my Blindness and that I wasn't going to give him a penny 
now! All of my encounters with the Public in general however has been an 
honest one! So, I have to say to all reading this topic and my comments is 
to Keep your vigilence when it comes to Cab drivers, no matter where you 
are! Kirk Good Luck to you all!

Kirk Harmon
1031 Lenmore CT.
Orlando, FL. 32812
Office: 407-380-3371
Cell: 407-473-2176

Founder
Florida Disabled Citizens for Progress
President-CEO
FDCP Association
911 cell Phone Bank
Manager

Mayor's Veterans Advisory Counsel

State of Florida Veterans Counsel
Member
NFB
ACB
TRIAD
DAV
BVA
Disabled
Advocate

for Florida

" F.D.C.P. Turning HOPE into REALITY"

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Panoff, Victor
  To: fcb-l at acb.org
  Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 2:29 PM
  Subject: Re: [fcb-l] Blind People being Ignored by Cab Drivers

  The taxicabs at the hotels in Orlando are by far the worst offenders. I 
travel often with my Guide dog and I have had problems with taxicabs and 
even airport shuttles in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, 
Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Tampa even in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

  Whenever possible I file a grievance sometimes it helps being with the P&A

  Victor Panoff*

  Senior Advocate/Investigator

  Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.
  Florida's Protection and Advocacy Programs

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  From: fcb-l-bounces at acb.org [mailto:fcb-l-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of 
Kirk
  Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 1:25 PM
  To: fcb-l at acb.org
  Subject: Re: [fcb-l] Blind People being Ignored by Cab Drivers

  Hell Shelly, I never wanted to live in Miami when I could see, let alone 
Blind! LOL! Miami to me is a hell hole that I can just as well not go to! 
Even when I livved in Ft. Lauderdale I still only went down their when I 
absolutely had to and that wasn't very many times! KH

  Kirk Harmon
  1031 Lenmore CT.
  Orlando, FL. 32812
  Office: 407-380-3371
  Cell: 407-473-2176

  Founder
  Florida Disabled Citizens for Progress
  President-CEO
  FDCP Association
  911 cell Phone Bank
  Manager

  Mayor's Veterans Advisory Counsel

  State of Florida Veterans Counsel
  Member
  NFB
  ACB
  TRIAD
  DAV
  BVA
  Disabled
  Advocate

  for Florida

  " F.D.C.P. Turning HOPE into REALITY"

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    From: Shelley Justice

    To: fcb-l at acb.org

    Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 1:36 PM

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

    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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