Refusal runs on the same ladder as overcharging. It also covers more than most drivers realise.
All four of these count:
- Refusing to take someone anywhere in the city, or the covered counties, without good reason
- Asking where they are going before they are seated
- Refusing a wheelchair, crutches, or another mobility aid
- Making a passenger with a disability bring a helper, or trying to charge for one
| What it costs | |
|---|---|
| First violation | Up to $500 |
| Second within 24 months | Up to $1,000, and possibly 30 days off |
| Third within 36 months | Up to $1,000, and they take your licence |
Here is the part that catches people. Those 24 and 36 month clocks count refusals and overcharges together. They share one ladder.
So a refusal ticket from 2024 and an overcharge ticket today put you at second violation.
Justified refusal is a real defence
The rule only punishes refusal without good reason.
Safety concerns count. Being properly off duty with the sign displayed counts. So does a destination outside the zone you have to serve.
These are winnable. But you need the paperwork and the testimony to prove it, and that is what a hearing is for.