Cab Elvis comes to town

Ordinary taxis were too boring for Mr Groh

Would you like Elvis Presley or Marylin Monroe to be your cab driver? Then welcome to Seattle!

Under the US city's new taxi dress code, cabbies are now allowed to dress up as "a readily identifiable and generally well-known public figure, personality or fictional character".

The Monday's ruling by the city council was prompted by a long and vigorous campaigning by David Groh, a local cab driver who likes to dress up as Elvis Presley.

Mr Groh - who calls himself Cab Elvis - adopted the new look after the 11 September terrorist attacks in order to cheer up shell-shocked Americans.

The driver said many passengers liked his Elvis outfit, and the "joy that it brought to people was apparent," according to New York Times newspaper.

But the idea drew ire from taxi inspectors, and the Elvis-impersonator was fined $60 for not wearing the required uniform - black trousers and a shirt with a collar.

After losing his appeal, Mr Groh filed a lawsuit, which he later agreed to drop.

The new code, however, has a number of quite strict limitations.

Cabbies cannot wear masks, impersonate police officers and firefighters, or have skimpy outfits.

Any application for a fancy dress must be approved their employees, and photographs in and out of costume must be posted inside cabs.

So don't expect Marylin Monroe to give you a night ride in Seattle, after all.