Hundreds of Chicago taxis being pulled from street

City authorities say a major new crackdown on alleged irregularities in Chicago taxicab registration is pulling about five percent of the city's taxi fleet off the street.

City inspectors have been literally prying hundreds of taxi medallions from cabs they say violated a city ordinance barring salvaged or rebuilt vehicles from being used as taxis.

The city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said Friday that at least 222 cabs have already been pulled from the road and orders are out for an additional 117.

Department commissioner Norma Reyes said the affected cabs represent roughly five percent of the 6,800 licensed cabs operating in the city.