Madrid to ditch clause stopping AIDS sufferers driving taxis

The city of Madrid is ready to eliminate a clause from new taxi regulations that would prevent people with infectious diseases from obtaining a taxi driver's license. Madrid authorities were originally planning to keep the clause, which dates from earlier 1980 regulations, but are now backtracking after an AIDS support group collected tens of thousands of signatures to petition the elimination of a rule it considers "discriminatory."

The rule was originally introduced with diseases such as tuberculosis in mind, since AIDS was not known at the time. But keeping it in place would effectively exclude AIDS sufferers as well.

Madrid councilor Pedro Calvo said that it is not the city's intention "to leave out any collective" and that if this clause poses a problem, it may be eliminated before the ordinance is definitively approved next month.

However, he warned that the prohibition would still remain in place because of a regional rule that regulates public transportation.

The HIV-AIDS State Coordinator (CESIDA) has collected more than 44,000 signatures through an online campaign to petition city authorities to remove that prohibition because it leaves AIDS patients without a chance to obtain a taxi driver's license.

The new ordinance is also tougher on drivers' personal appearance, prohibiting the use of sports or swimming clothing, shorts, sleeveless shirts or sandals. Violators face fines of up to 300 euros.