Muslim Cab Drivers in Minneapolis Face New Penalties

The Minnesota Metropolitan Airports Commission has voted unanimously to enact new penalties for taxi drivers who refuse passengers that are carrying alcohol or have dogs traveling with them. This story hit the news wires a while back, but now the Commission is finally had enough complaints from air travelers who have had their fares refused by Muslim cab drivers.

Now, if they refuse to give rides to travelers, they face a two-year revocation of their taxi permits. A first-offense, under the new regulations, would result in a 30-day suspension of their cab license. A second-offense will take away their license for two years. Under current policy, if they refuse a rider, they have to go back to the end of the cab line. That costs them time and money -- this new regulation may cost them their jobs. And deservedly so.

Complaints have been filed by blind people that are accompanied by their canine companion. The Muslim Somali immigrants say they (the dogs) are "unclean". Their Islamic faith bans alcohol consumption, but these cab drivers also think it applies to those travelers who have unopened bottles in their luggage. In the last five years, there have been roughly 4,800 instances when drivers refused fares who carried the demon rum in their baggage.

Travelers from international destinations that bring back duty-free alcoholic beverages often have them in readily identifiable packages. The Muslim drivers see them and then refuse the passengers fare requests.

In my humble opinion, the crux of the matter is the issue of immigrant assimilation. Historically, every ethnic group that came to this country did their damnedest to "fit in" with their new country. The native language was still spoken by the immigrants, but they insisted on their children learning and adapting to American culture and language. The Italians, Irish, Poles, Germans, and every other nationality did it. Why can't or won't the Muslim immigrants do the same?