PHOENIX â Claiming illegal discrimination, a public interest law firm is suing a major taxi company for charging more to some people with disabilities.
Legal papers filed last week in federal court claim that Total Transit Inc. is violating federal and state laws by imposing a $10 surcharge on people in motorized wheelchairs who can use only an âaccessibleâ taxi. The Arizona Center for Disability Law is asking U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa to block the surcharge by the company, which operates a fleet of taxis under the Discount Cab label.
Bill Blair, the companyâs director of operations, said his firm âcannot comment on pending litigation.â
The case is filed on behalf of three individuals, all of whom use power wheelchairs.
Attorney Jessica Ross said each requires a taxi that has a ramp or lift to be able to get in. She said Discount Cab provides them â but only if the customer pays that $10 charge.
âOur clients donât have the option of taking the standard taxi,â Ross said.
Ross said this is different than if someone confined to a wheelchair wanted to rent a car. She said those firms would be allowed to charge a higher rate for a suitable vehicle, such as one that had a ramp or could be operated with hand controls.
But taxis, she said, are different.
Part of the reason for the lawsuit is the fact that Discount Cab does have such vehicles.
âTheyâre not required to have accessible vehicles in their fleet,â Ross conceded. âBut certain standards apply once they do get accessible vehicles.â
