Broome County’s first county-wide taxicab regulations took effect July 1, and some in the taxi industry are struggling to keep pace.

The legislation was an effort to consolidate the disparate city regulations into a unified, county-wide code and to improve the quality of service. Government officials expect that the new law will change the industry for the better, but for some in the business, the attached fees and mandates mean tougher times.

Bob Pornbeck, the owner of A1 Courtesy Cab, said many of his drivers have left the business since the new legislation took effect. He estimates that the number of drivers operating under the Courtesy Cab banner have dropped by about 50 percent from earlier this year.

Pornbeck still has his fleet of vehicles, but, he said, ‘we don’t have the drivers to put in them.’

He attributes that drop in part to the licensing and registration fees required under the new regulations. And though he said the fees are not making things easier for his drivers, Pornbeck does see some benefits of the regulations.

‘I agree with updating the looks of the vehicles,’ he said. He was referring to the clauses of the legislation that stipulate minimum standards for the maintenance and sanitary conditions of the vehicles.

Darcy Fauci, the deputy county executive of human services, said the county initially took on the task of revamping the taxi code as an economic development issue.

There were ‘serious issues with the quality of our taxi service,’ Fauci said. ‘There needed to be some investment in your business.’

According to Fauci, the goal of the regulations is to improve the cleanliness, professionalism and safety of the cabs. ‘We’re not looking to shut anyone down,’ she said.

But at least one driver has turned off the engine for good.

For five years, Nas Huseyin was the sole driver in his self-owned business, Express Taxi. This summer, he decided to move on.

‘It’s not worth it, being in the business,’ he said.

Though he saw merit in some of the legislation’s tenets ‘ he thought the mandatory drug screenings and fingerprinting were a good idea ‘ he said he could not afford the license and registration fees.

Huseyin was also frustrated with the new rule that only allows drivers to pick up fares who have called in advance or who are queued in a designated taxi stand. The law puts an end to the practice of picking up people who hail taxis from the curbside.

Huseyin has since found a job working in a restaurant.

According to Eric Denk, clerk of the Broome County Legislature, the new legislation will take the place of its localized predecessors in the city of Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott, where local governments have repealed their taxi ordinances to make room for the county-wide regulations.

The legislation, which was approved by a 13-to-3 vote in the Broome County Legislature on March 18, requires all taxi drivers and vehicles to be licensed and registered with the county, for which there are fees ranging from $25 for a vehicle inspection to $300 for a non-hybrid vehicle license. So far, 12 taxi operations have registered their vehicles under the new legislation.

Denk also emphasized the role of the consumer. He pointed out that a hotline is available for taxi customers who wish to share their impressions of service with the county. The number for the hotline is (607) 778-2227.

‘Any government regulation can only go so far, and it’s up to the consumer to be demanding about the quality of service they receive,’ Denk said.