Riders cannot be denied service because they travel with a service animal. A rider will be refunded any trip cancellation charges or other charges imposed because a driver-partner denied a Rider service because of a service animal.
Riders will be informed by Vibe Rides of what action Vibe Rides takes in response to their complaint about discrimination on the basis of a service animal, including whether Vibe Rides has terminated its contract with the driver-partner involved.
What is a Service Animal?
A service animal is an animal that is trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.
The law provides that there are only two questions that a driver-partner may ask to confirm that a rider’s animal is a service animal: (1) Is the animal required because of a disability? And, (2) What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? The driver-partner may not request that the rider present documentation proving that the rider’s animal is a service animal.
There is no requirement that a service animal wear a tag, be registered, or display any kind of proof that it is a service animal.
Driver-partners have a legal obligation to provide service to riders with service animals.
A driver-partner CANNOT lawfully deny service to riders with service animals because of allergies, religious objections, or a generalized fear of animals. By virtue of their written Technology Services Agreement with Vibe Rides, all driver-partners using the Driver App have been made aware of their legal obligation to provide service to riders with service animals and have agreed to comply with the law. If a driver-partner refuses to transport a rider with a service animal because of the service animal, the driver-partner is in violation of the law and is in breach of their agreement with Vibe Rides.
Consequences for Refusal to Transport a Rider with a Service Animal
If Vibe Rides determines that a driver-partner knowingly refused to transport a rider with a service animal because of the service animal, the driver-partner will be permanently prevented from using the Driver App. Vibe Rides shall make this determination in its sole discretion following a review of the incident.
If Vibe Rides receives plausible complaints on more than one occasion from riders that a particular driver-partner refused to transport a rider with a service animal, that driver-partner will be permanently prevented from using the Driver App, regardless of the justification offered by the driver-partner.