Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!uunet!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!229!101!Bill.Burgess
From: Bill.Burgess@f101.n229.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Burgess)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Taxi Refused/Charged
Message-ID: <19144@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 4 May 91 04:04:38 GMT
Sender: news@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: Bill.Burgess@f101.n229.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:229/101 - Ontario Police Jour, Ajax ON
Lines: 26
Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org

Index Number: 15356

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Today I got into my car just as the 8 a.m. news came on. The
powerful announcers voice stated that a Toronto taxi driver was
charged for refusing a guide dog. The user entered the cab with the
dog, and was told to get her 90 pound golden retreiver out of the
cab. He would have to ride in the trunk. She exited the cab and got
in the one behind, who noted the offenders cab number and company.
The cabbie was fined $100 and now comes up in front of the
licensing commission. This radio station reaches over half a
million listeners in southern Ontario and the Buffalo, New York
area. The Toronto Star, with a daily circulation of over 520,000
also carried it near the front with a photo of the lady. Failure to
prosecute is a big swat in the faces of fellow guide dog users, but
prosecution yields many results. Just think. How long and how many
pamphlets and meetings would you have to attend to get this much
awareness of your rights and the penalty for violation to the
public. While I feel the cabbie should have paid $300 which is a
common fine for it, the publicity perhaps was worth so much more.
If they do you dirt, SIC "EM.  Bill

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!229!101!Bill.Burgess
Internet: Bill.Burgess@f101.n229.z1.fidonet.org