Hundreds of cabdrivers have been breaking Worthington's law for decades by picking up passengers from the suburb without a license.

Now, the city is considering doing away with its cab laws altogether.

Worthington city code prohibits cabs in the city limits unless they submit proof of insurance as part of the licensing process.

Cabdrivers had no idea.

"I haven't heard of that," Asmelash Gebru, a Central Ohio Taxi driver licensed in Columbus, said yesterday. "If we get called, we have to go there."

Worthington typically had just one or two licensed cabbies a year. But since November, it issued 45 licenses. Those drivers said they are unable to make money in Columbus because licensing and leasing vehicles is too expensive.

"It's unreasonable to assume that 500 drivers in the city of Columbus would know Worthington city code when there's never been a violation there," said Michael Goldsbury, who manages Acme Taxi, and is the drivers' representative on the Columbus Vehicle for Hire Board.

By licensing at a lower rate in Worthington, Goldsbury said, drivers illegally do business in Columbus and avoid paying the higher Columbus fee.

Columbus limits the number of licenses to control the supply of cabs, prices and safety.

Jeff Glassman, president of Yellow Cab, Columbus' largest taxicab employer, said he was unaware of Worthington's law.

"Historically, the suburbs have always allowed Columbus cabbies to pick up in their cities," Glassman said. "If they're going to tell me they want me to get licensed or to stop doing business in Worthington they have to make that decision.

"I feel sorry for these drivers, but if you had unlimited entry into the Columbus market, you'd have mayhem."

If the Worthington City Council repeals its cab laws on Monday, there would be no regulations for cab drivers in the city.

Worthington City Councilman Michael Duffey thinks that's wrong.

"I'm concerned with abdicating responsibility and saying 'Let Columbus deal with it.'  "

Few other suburbs regulate taxis. Upper Arlington charges just $6 to operate there. Unlike Worthington, it permits Columbus licensees to operate there.

Until November, Upper Arlington had just one licensed driver. Currently, there are six. The suburb also is reviewing its laws, said Suzanne Beach, who processes the applications.

dnarciso@dispatch.com