Posted on 01/17/2007 10:37:46 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Muslim cab drivers at Minnesota's biggest airport are facing a possible crackdown for refusing to give rides to travelers carrying liquor or accompanied by dogs, an official said on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission has authorized a public hearing next month on a staff proposal to increase penalties for refusing fares, spokesman Patrick Hogan said.
A large number of taxi drivers in the area of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are Muslim Somali immigrants.
Many of them say they feel the faith's ban on alcohol consumption includes transporting anyone carrying it. Some have also refused to transport dogs, both pets and guide dogs, saying they are unclean.
Under the proposal -- which is also aimed at drivers who refuse to take short-haul passengers in favor of more lucrative long trips -- a first offense would result in a 30-day cab license suspension and a second a two-year license revocation.
The public hearing, approved at a commission meeting on Tuesday, will be held February 27.
Hogan said the number of refused rides has fallen from about 77 a month early in 2006 to eight to 20 a month currently.
The decline is due in part to the government security ban on large quantities of liquid in carry-on baggage, but the staff felt the situation needed to be addressed for a variety of reasons, Hogan said.
Hesham Hussein, a spokesman for the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, said that group, in trying to work out a compromise last year, told the commission that Islamic law prohibits not only the drinking but the selling and transport of alcohol. He said the group said nothing about dogs and would not agree that a person with a seeing-eye dog should be denied a ride.
The compromise the group tried to work out involved marking cabs to alert dispatchers and customers to those who would not transport alcohol so they would not be hailed or called up from queues.
The commission rejected that idea and Hussein told Reuters that approach idea now appears to be dead. Given the "social polarization" and intolerance among some in the country, he said, the "cards are stacked" against the drivers.
If the stronger penalties are approved drivers could still refuse to accept a fare if they feel the person seeking a ride presents a threat to public safety or is drunk or on drugs.
I don't think that the MAC needs to impose a suspension, just make it a policy that a cabbie refusing a fare has to head to the back of the cab line. I guarantee you that the problem will be solved in no time.
great story!
Gasahol in their gas would produce fumes that they would inhale? OMG!
Wouldn't that be turnabout fair play...asking the driver "Are you Muslim?" and then "Sorry, I don't ride with Muslims. Next cab please!"
I hope you dont live in NYC. You would never get anywhere then.
How about cracking down with 1/2 pound of C-4...
One dog has more love in its heart than a million muslims put together.
When riding a cab, offer some of your ham sandwich to the driver. Talk about your dog.
Listen up! I'm disgusted by people who are "offended" by alcohol but who go to religious services and learn how to cut heads off while they chant religious ditties and call on a false deity!
Enough with this garbage!
Not quite ping worthy, but thought this would be of interest. Not much difference between the Islamic Taliban and the nanny staters.
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