The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Taxis) (Carrying of Guide Dogs etc.) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000
Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Taxis)(Carrying of Guide Dogs etc.) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force—
(a)
for the purposes of regulation 2(1) on 1st December 2000; and
(b)
for all other purposes on 31st March 2001.
F1(2)
In these Regulations “the 2010 Act” means the Equality Act 2010.
(3)
These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
Notices of exemption2.
(1)
The prescribed notice of exemption for the purposes of F2section 169(4)(b) of the 2010 Act shall be—
(a)
in the case of a driver of a taxi to whom the F3exemption certificate has been issued by a licensing authority in England, the notice set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations; and
(b)
in the case of a driver of a taxi to whom the F4exemption certificate has been issued by a licensing authority in Wales, the notice set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.
F5(2)
The prescribed manner of exhibiting a notice of exemption for the purposes of F6section 169(4)(b) of the 2010 Act shall be—
(a)
by displaying it—
(i)
on the nearside of and immediately behind the windscreen of the taxi facing outwards; and
(ii)
in a manner that readily permits its removal;
(b)
so that—
(i)
its front is clearly visible from the outside of the taxi; and
(ii)
its back is clearly visible from the driver’s seat of the taxi.
F7Prescribed charities3.
Each of the following is a prescribed charity for the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of “assistance dog” in section 173(1) of the 2010 Act (so far as that definition applies for the purposes of section 168 of that Act)—
(a)
“Dogs for the Disabled” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1092960;
(b)
“Support Dogs” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1017237; and
(c)
“Canine Partners for Independence” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 803680.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF FRONT OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN ENGLAND
F81.
FORM OF BACK OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN ENGLAND
F92.
SCHEDULE 2
FORM OF FRONT OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN WALES
F10F111.
FORM OF BACK OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN WALES
F122.
Section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 imposes a duty on taxi drivers to carry, without additional charge a guide dog, hearing dog and other prescribed category of dog when it accompanies the hirer. It also provides that a taxi driver may be exempted from this obligation on medical grounds. (The dates on which these provisions come into force for England and Wales are prescribed by S.I. 2000/2989 (C.91) made at the same time as these Regulations.)
These Regulations, which apply to taxis licensed in England and Wales, prescribe the form of the exemption notice which must be displayed by an exempted driver and the manner of its display in the taxi.
The Regulations also prescribe as an additional category of dog to which section 37 applies certain dogs helping people with epilepsy or certain general physical disabilities.
The provisions prescribing the form of exemption notices come into force on 1st December 2000. For all other purposes the Regulations come into force on 31st March 2001.
A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Zone 1/18 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1 4DR (telephone 020 7944 6100). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.