Taxi drivers in Southampton have been warned they could be suspended if they do not remove St George flags from their cars saying they speak English.Some drivers said they had put up the stickers after passengers complained others could not speak the language.
They said they were not being deliberately racist, but members of the public and ethnic minority drivers have complained to the city council.
All city taxi drivers must pass a communications test to gain a licence.
A city council spokesman said: "Regardless of them being St George flags, if drivers want any signs in their cabs, they have to apply to the council.
"We would turn down most applications for signs, unless it was a phone number for the taxi."
He added it was "very unlikely" that the council's powers to suspend the licences would be used, because the drivers were expected to comply.
Council officers have been out to speak with the drivers and one has already voluntarily removed the sticker from his cab.
The matter came to a head last week when some taxi drivers complained to the city council about the stickers in a meeting.
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