West Palm Beach taxicab company agrees to transport service animals.
Score one for working dogs.
The Golden Cab Corporation of West Palm Beach has settled with the state regarding a complaint from a Lake Worth blind woman, who said a cab driver refused a ride to she and her guide dog because his taxi was not “properly equipped” to transport an animal.
The state sued under the federal American with Disabilities Act of 1990.
As part of the agreement, the company agreed to not to deny rides to any persons accompanied by service animals or to charge them additional for doing so, to notify all of its dispatchers and drivers about its service animal policy, and to post a sign in all of its vehicles, stating that service animals are welcome (not sure exactly how this will help blind customers, but…).
Golden Cab also agreed to pay a $1,000 penalty to each person filing a founded complaint in the future, plus a $1,000 civil penalty to the government.
The ADA allows service animals access to private business and other places where pets often are banned, including restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. This right extends to all animals assisting the disabled, not just guide dogs for the blind. Click here for a US Department of Justice fact sheet on the law and service animals.
MSNBC has reported problems recently with some Muslim cab drivers in Minneapolis refusing to rides to disabled customers with service dogs. Strict Muslims consider dogs unclean and the drivers said carrying the animals went against their beliefs.
The Palm Beach County case, however, did not have anything to do with religion.
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ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
