A federal judge has blocked New York City from forcing taxi operators to go green with cars that mix gasoline and electric.
The ruling Friday by Judge Paul Crotty threw a major roadblock in the way of city plans requiring new cabs to get 25 miles per gallon. That rule was due to take effect Saturday.
Taxi operators said in a lawsuit that fuel-efficient vehicles were not built to withstand the pounding that city cabs endure.
The city law office said it was preparing comment.
Crotty says it appears the taxi operators will win the case because the new Taxicab & Limousine Commission regulations are pre-empted under federal laws.
The judge says the laws reserve regulation of fuel economy and emissions standards to federal agencies.
Copyright The Associated Press
