By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A judge ruled Thursday that a new set of rules for taxi drivers is legal.
The ruling left in place the new Metropolitan Taxi Commission, which now regulates drivers in St. Louis city and county.
It affects nearly 1,900 drivers. The rules require them to speak English, follow a certain dress code, and retire their old cars.
The lawyer for a group of cabbies, Hermann Jimerson, says he will appeal; he says the rules restrict drivers' rights.
The judge did order one change to the rules: Drivers do not have to follow the dress code if their religious beliefs prevent them from doing so.