[nagdu] License revoked

[Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire]

Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 1:55 AM
Subject: License revoked
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 1:27 PM
Subject: License revoked
Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com
Denver cabby license revoked for service-animal cruelty
By Andrea Kennedy,
Colorado Adaptive Travel Examiner
June 9th, 2011 10:22 am MT
A Colorado cab driver had his license revoked and was served a hefty fine 
for forcing a blind woman to stow her seeing-eye dog in the trunk due to his 
allergies.
Quoted from ABC News affiliate in Denver KMGH 7:
"Denver resident Judie Brown was confused when the cabbie told her that the 
dog had to ride "in the back" of the cab because of he was allergic. When
she asked, 'Where in the back?' the driver responded 'In the trunk.'
Late for an appointment, Brown reluctantly agreed. The black lab, Alberto, 
who has been Brown's service dog for four years, whined during the entire 
ride in the trunk.
"It was terribly wrong," Brown said of the situation, and the law is on her 
side:
Colorado state law protects service dogs and their owners, allowing them to 
ride together in taxis and public transport."
According to the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals 
trump all other needs (restaurant codes, health needs, pet rules), and the 
ADA does not currently label allergies, or even asthma, as a disability.
While the driver has a right to protect a vehicle he likely spends most of 
his waking time in, the right thing to do would have been to call another 
cab.
We used to travel with a service dog from 2003-2007 and while we never 
experienced discrimination like this from a cab driver, there were plenty of 
instances where we had to pull out the briefing section from the ADA that 
discussed service animals to prove our working dog's rights. We suggest 
printing out this section and putting it in your dog's pack.
If this should happen to you, and you have time to do so, we recommend 
requesting another cab driver, or calling the driver's manager.  Most 
company managers will know these rights, but if they don't, always report 
it.
Also, when we're traveling, we often save the names and numbers of cab 
companies and drivers that have been helpful to us (or at least, not 
UNhelpful) so we'd recommend also doing this to areas where you frequently 
travel.  Keeping the personal card of a cab driver is good practice - often 
they will go out of their way to pick up repeating patrons, and always 
appreciate the reliable business.