Tightened control with Russian taxis in Finland
Border controls between Russia and Finland have become much tougher for Russian drivers of mini-buses and vans.
The Border Guards have fined and deported dozens of Russians based on violations of a Finnish taxi law which came into effect in 2007 that made licenses compulsory for transport companies and individuals involved in taxi business.
Since then, border officials have been monitoring Russian taxis as they have carried thousands of customers over the border in each direction and even deliver them from place to place in Finland – at lower rates than Finnish taxis, YLE reports.
Several companies have suspended services as Finland stepped up its campaign last summer from warnings to actions, and numerous Russian taxi drivers were for the first time given fines ranging from 60 to 250 EUR for providing illegal transportation services. In the most severe cases their visas were canceled. St. Petersburg Times writes.
According to operators, the number of travelers going between Russia and Finland rose tenfold within one year. One of the busiest customs checkpoints, Valimaa-Torfyanovka, saw 2,7 million tourists in 2007, and the majority of people travelled by taxi. Some Russian transportation companies assume that Finland intends to reserve profits for domestic taxi operators and therefore have been trying to eliminate the competitors.
