MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Muslim cab drivers at Minnesota's
biggest airport will face new penalties including a two-year
revocation of their taxi permits if they refuse to give rides to
travelers carrying liquor or accompanied by dogs, the board
overseeing operations ruled Monday.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission, responding to complaints
about the liquor issue, voted unanimously to impose the new
penalties beginning in May.
A large number of taxi drivers in the area of the Minneapolis-St.
Paul International Airport are Muslim Somali immigrants. Many say
they feel the faith's ban on alcohol consumption includes
transporting anyone carrying it.
Some also have refused to transport dogs, both pets and guide dogs,
saying they are unclean.
The new rules cover any driver who refuses a ride for unwarranted
reasons, including those who refuse to take short-haul passengers
in favor of more lucrative longer trips. They can still refuse
fares for certain reasons, including threats to their safety.
Under the new regulations a first offense would result in a 30-day
cab license suspension and a second in a two-year taxi license
revocation.
The current penalty only requires that cab drivers who refuse a
fare to go back to the end of the taxi queue, costing them time and
money.
Since January 2002, the commission said in announcing the new
rules, there have been about 4,800 instances where cab drivers
refused to pick up people with alcohol in their possession.
Travelers arriving from international destinations often bring back
duty-free alcoholic beverages many in easily identifiable
packages.
