NEW YORK, NY (CHANNEL 6 NEWS) — New York is known as one of the most fashion-conscious cities in the world – even the taxi drivers have to dress up or face a fine.

The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission are proposing a new dress code for cabbies that doesn’t focus on individual items of clothing like the previous code. It simply states that drivers must “present a professional appearance,” and is punishable with a $25 fine.

“‘Professional’ is really for the driver to define,” said TLC Deputy Commissioner Conan Freud.

“What I am wearing is professional too, who are they to say this is professional (and) this is not professional?” said driver Mohammed Bangash.

One rider said about the new code, “As long as they’re wearing pants, that’s the only thing that I care about.”

The TLC found out that referring to specific fashion trends in a dress code can be tedious. For example, the old dress code bans cut-off jean shorts for cab drivers, a men’s style not currently making a comeback after dying out in the early 90′s. Also off limits according to the old code are tank tops, bathing suits and tube tops.

Whether the drivers follow the newly worded dress code is another matter.

The dress code use to be general yet straightforward — “A driver shall be clean and neat in dress and person.” By the year 1987, however, the code became more specific and included multiple amendments after riders complained heavily of rude, sloppy cabbies.

The new dress code is expected to be approved when it is voted on next month.