East Lansing City Council unanimously passed a 15-month moratorium on the application of taxi cab vehicles, licenses and drivers during its Tuesday meeting.

Council members said during the meeting that companies will still be able to add drivers to equal the number of vehicles they possess, but not any more than that. They will also still be able to replace vehicles that have been damaged.

“I think this will clean out all the maverick drivers in East Lansing,” said City Councilmember Susan Woods.

Several taxi company owners who attended the meeting expressed their discontent about the moratorium being set.

“Our company has nine cabs. We run a day and night shift. In theory, we can have 18 drivers. The dilemma is that limiting the number of drivers to the number of licensed vehicles does not correspond,” said Julie Voeller, owner of Shaggin’ Wagon.

“You will put us out of business,” said John Clark, owner of Clark’s Cab. “I need to maintain my six taxi cabs. I deserve the right to be able to hire people and let them go as need be.”

The moratorium can be amended at any time within the 15 months of being in place.