A Wirral taxi driver has been fined £760 after leaving an 80-year-old blind woman and her guide dog stranded in freezing conditions, sparking outrage and calls for stronger enforcement of disability rights in the industry.
The distressing incident occurred in January when Monica Price, a registered blind resident, booked a taxi through Argyle Taxis in Birkenhead for a meeting in Wallasey. What should have been a routine journey quickly turned into a shocking experience of discrimination.
Recalling the event, Ms Price told the Wirral Globe, “The driver was most unfriendly and said he’d been waiting for at least five minutes. He must have seen I had a guide dog, but when I got to the car with my dog’s harness in hand, he screamed, ‘I can’t take you. I’m allergic. Get that dog away from me!’”
Ms Price said the driver then “jumped out of his car still screaming and ran down the street,” leaving her standing alone in the cold.
Although a second taxi was dispatched, things didn’t improve. The driver who arrived to take her home following her meeting reportedly reacted in a similarly hostile manner. “He was rude and belligerent, shouting he was allergic to dogs. Then he just drove off and left me in the freezing cold,” she said. “Someone from the meeting had to take me home.”
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse passengers with assistance dogs unless they hold a valid medical exemption certificate issued by their licensing authority.
Following the incident, Argyle Satellite issued a statement promising to launch a full internal investigation and cooperate fully with Wirral Council Licensing. A spokesperson said, “We are deeply disappointed to hear of these alleged incidents and strongly condemn any breach of the Disability Discrimination Act or the Equality Act. We expect all our drivers to uphold their duty to carry passengers with guide, hearing, and other assistance dogs without additional charge, unless medically exempt.”
On Thursday, 16 May, one of the drivers involved pleaded guilty in court. He was fined £200, ordered to pay £500 in legal costs, and handed a £60 victim surcharge. His future as a licensed driver remains uncertain, with a licensing committee review pending.
A Wirral Council spokesperson reaffirmed the council’s commitment to protecting the rights of disabled passengers: “The council is committed to ensuring everyone travelling in Wirral-licensed taxis can do so safely and with appropriate assistance. All drivers undergo training on their legal obligations regarding passengers with assistance dogs, and we will take robust action against any driver who fails to comply.”
This case has renewed calls from campaigners for better enforcement, driver education, and stronger consequences for those who violate the rights of disabled passengers.
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