(Springfield, Mo.) --

UPDATE: An ordinance, Council Bill 2010-039, passed at Monday night's council meeting, adding 'solicit' to the section of city code on Airport Rules and Regulations. The original story is below:

A "fare fight" among taxi drivers at the Springfield-Branson National Airport will likely lead to a city ordinance change. Monday night, council will consider adding a definition of the word 'solicit' to the section of city code on Airport Rules and Regulations.

Visitors to the Springfield-Branson National Airport, looking for a ride, likely won't have to wait - cab drivers are ready for the customers.

"They'll come out one of three doors here, and they can pretty much see us," says John Stevens, a driver for Springfield Yellow Cab. "I hang outside of my car because when people are coming out, I want them to know I'm available and ready to do something, ready to work."

He's well within his rights to stand outside his cab, as long as he doesn't stray.

"We've got to stay within a car's length of our car," says Stevens

"We've had this problem, it's been on-going for years, where cab drivers will come in the buildings and harass customers, trying to get them to take a ride in their cabs," says Kent Boyd, the Public Information and Marketing Director for the airport.

"It was almost a daily practice, it seemed, with some people," says Stevens.

It's considered soliciting - which, according to city code, is a type of competition that isn't welcome at the airport.

"When you have drivers actively engaging customers, passengers at the airport for fare, and then there's bickering or there's bartering outside - this doesn't look good," says David Nokes, the Supervisor of Airport Security.

"I have seen some arguing over somebody took somebody they didn't think they was supposed to take or borderline soliciting in the past, and, yeah, there's been some words exchanged," says Stevens.

Last year, airport police wrote two tickets to taxi drivers for soliciting. They stopped when they found out the tickets were unenforceable. The code never defines 'solicit.'

"Up until now, there were really no repercussions for soliciting at the airport, but, by re-writing the code, there will be repercussions," says Boyd.

The repercussion will come in the form of a fine. Springfield City Attorney Dan Wichmer says that would likely be around $100. That's threat enough to Stevens, who says he plans to find fares... by the book.

The drafted definition is:
Solicit means the uninvited initiation of a conversation by any individual with any potential customer for the purpose of enticing or persuading said customer to purchase any goods or use any service or facilities promoted by the individual.

Council will likely vote on the ordinance, Council Bill 2010-039 at Monday night's meeting - that begins at 6:30 at old city hall.

Contact: dmagditch@kspr.com