The government proposes a maximum price for taxis in the cities

The Ministry of Trade and Fisheries is now sending out a new regulation for consultation in which they propose to introduce a maximum price for taxis when hailing a taxi on the street or at a bus stop, writes E24.

– Unfortunately, there is so much frivolity that we feel compelled to do this. Good competition is always welcome. This will remove unscrupulous players, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries Vegard Grøslie Wennesland (Ap).

The regulation shall not apply to taxi trips that are booked in advance with a pre-agreed price.

Wennesland is not afraid that this will destroy competition in the taxi market, but that it will weed out the more unscrupulous players.

According to the plan, the new rules with maximum prices will only be introduced for one year.

– We have to see what is right and what works. That is why it is temporary – only a year in the first instance, he says.

The Norwegian Competition Authority has previously warned against introducing maximum prices for taxi transport in the Oslo area, but several of the traditional players in the industry, on the other hand, believe that maximum prices can be a good measure.

The proposal that is now being sent out for consultation comes as part of the budget settlement with SV earlier this year.