It’s time for shabby cabbies to tidy up.
Taxi and Limousine Commissioners today gave the thumbs up to a new rule requiring drivers to maintain a “a professional appearance.”
Previous rules prohibit underwear worn as outerwear. Tank tops and swimwear were also no-nos.
Except for requiring professional garb, the new rule doesn’t single out any garments in particular.
So haute couture won’t be a cabby sine qua non. “There will be no fashion police,” said TLC Commissioner David Yassky.
Instead, he said, the new rule simply insists that cabbies be neat and clean.
Yassky says the old restrictions were outdated, and the city wanted a simpler rule.
“It updates a dress code rule written 20 years ago that was written for a different time,” he said.
He said religious and ethnic garb is welcome.
“Turbans are absolutely professional dress. Any religious or ethnic garb is absolutely professional,” said Yassky.
Dress code violations haven’t been a problem for cabbies — fewer than 50 summonses for violating dress rules have been written since 1996, officials say.
The TLC approved the rule on a voice vote.