State and federal law prohibit driver-partners using the Vibe Rides Driver App from denying service to riders with service animals because of the service animals, and from otherwise discriminating against riders with service animals. As explained in Vibe Rides Non-Discrimination Policy, driver-partners who engage in discriminatory conduct in violation of this legal obligation will lose their ability to use the Driver App.
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.