Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent

1.—(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.

(2) In these Regulations “the 1995 Act” means the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Notices of exemption

2.—(1) The prescribed notice of exemption for the purposes of section 37(8)(b) of the 1995 Act shall be—

(a)in the case of a driver of a taxi to whom the certificate of exemption 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 certificate of exemption has been issued by a licensing authority in Wales, the notice set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

(2) The prescribed manner of exhibiting a notice of exemption for the purposes of section 37(8)(b) of the 1995 Act shall be by either—

(a)affixing it in a prominent position on the dashboard of the taxi, facing upwards; or

(b)affixing it to the windscreen of the taxi, facing outwards.

Categories of dog

3.—(1) An assistance dog is prescribed as a category of dog for the purposes of section 37(9) of the 1995 Act.

(2) “An assistance dog” means a dog which—

(a)is trained by a specified charity to assist a disabled person with a physical impairment for the purpose of section 1 of the 1995 Act which—

(i)consists of epilepsy; or

(ii)otherwise affects his mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects; and

(b)at the time that the disabled person whom it is assisting hires a taxi, is wearing a jacket on which is prominently inscribed the name of a specified charity.

(3) A “specified charity” means—

(a)“Dogs for the Disabled” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 700454;

(b)“Support Dogs” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1017237; or

(c)“Canine Partners for Independence” registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 803680.

Regulation 2(1)(a)

SCHEDULE 1

FORM OF FRONT OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN ENGLAND

FORM OF BACK OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN ENGLAND

Regulation 2(1)(b)

SCHEDULE 2

FORM OF FRONT OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN WALES

FORM OF BACK OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN WALES

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

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.