Religious rights have no right in the service industry, especially when your customers suffer.

I personally believe that individuals who refuse service to another because of religious beliefs should be removed from the service industry and fined heavily. A large part of our lives are governed by services that we either receive or render to other individuals or groups. When one person or group imposes their conflicted beliefs upon another individual or group it becomes a matter of misplaced harassment by the offending group.

Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport

News Release: February 20th 2007

Public Hearing Set Regarding Proposed Changes in Taxi Ordinance at MSP
- Changes Would Increase Penalties for Refusal of Service -

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – Members of the public, business community and taxicab industry are invited to testify at a public hearing regarding proposed increases in penalties for taxi drivers who refuse service to customers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The public hearing will begin at 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2007. The hearing will take place in the Chippewa Room of the Ramada Mall of America (formerly the Thunderbird Hotel), 2300 East American Boulevard, Bloomington, Minnesota, 55425 (one block north of the Mall of America and just south of Interstate 494).

Proposed changes in Metropolitan Airports Commission Taxi Ordinance 102 would provide for a 30-day suspension of a driver's airport taxi license for the first unauthorized refusal of service and license revocation for a second offense. Drivers could continue to refuse service to passengers who are significantly impaired by liquor or drugs or who pose a threat to the physical safety of the driver.

Presently, penalties vary depending on the nature of the service refusal, but in many cases drivers simply forfeit their turn for a fare and go to the back of the taxi line.

The proposed increase in penalties is designed to improve taxi service to users of the airport by strengthening compliance with Taxi Ordinance 102. Since 2002, there have been thousands of instances in which airport taxi drivers have refused to serve a passenger as required by ordinance either because the passenger had alcohol in his or her possession, was accompanied by a dog, or wanted to travel only a short distance from the airport.

The public hearing record will remain open from the date of the hearing until 12 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2007 for people who want to provide written comments regarding the proposed ordinance change. Comments should be addressed to: Landside Operations Department, Metropolitan Airports Commission, MSP International Airport/Lindbergh Terminal, 4300 Glumack Drive, Suite LT-3129B, Saint Paul, MN 55111-3010. Written comments must be received by noon on Friday, March 2, 2007.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission board will consider the public hearing testimony in deciding what changes to make, if any, to Taxi Ordinance 102.