A New York City administrative judge ordered a cab driver to pay $10,000 to the lesbian couple whom he asked to stop kissing inside his cab.
According to DNAinfo, the cab driver was identified as Mohammed Dahbi and he told the couple to keep their behavior inside their bedroom, and if they will not, they should leave his cab. Dahbi also called the couple "b****s," "c***s," and "wh***s" because they got out of the cab without paying him.
Judge John Spooner ordered Dahbi to attend anti-discrimination sessions and pay $5,000 to the city because he committed a civil crime. The couple was identified as Christy Spitzer and Kassie Thornton and they told the publication that they felt that what Dahbi did to them was wrong and he has to take responsibility for what he has done.
The publication reported that the incident happened on Sept. 8, 2011 when Spitzer got into the cab at Columbus Circle. She asked Dahbi to drive to Chelsea to pick up Thornton and told Dahbi to take them to Sunset Park where Thornton resides.
Dahbi told during the hearing that the women were kissing heavily and touched each other all over that is why he was distracted. Dahbi pointed out that he could not keep his eyes on the road and did not want to have any accident that is why he asked the two ladies to stop kissing. However, Spitzer and Thorton said they only gave each other a peck on the lips and did nothing else.
Dahbi said that he did not discriminate the couple because they were gay as he even volunteered at a food pantry sponsored by the Metropolitan Community Church that caters to gay homeless people. The lawyer of Dahbi, Ali Najmi, shared with the publication that it is not just gay couples he prohibit engaging in such act as he also asks straight couples to do the same.
Despite the ruling of the court, Daily Mail reported that Dahbi will file an appeal to a higher court. Najmi also said that the fine is also unfair for his client since there was no injury or such during the incident.