Approximately 5,000 violations of the 12 o’clock rule have been identified at gas stations in Saxony. According to a spokesperson for the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs, this is a relatively small number compared to other federal states.
Counties Review Procedures
According to the information provided, whether a deviation constitutes a violation punishable by a fine is at the discretion of the responsible enforcement authorities, namely the counties. “We have received feedback from the affected counties that, in most agencies, the submitted data is currently being reviewed and evaluated, and hearing procedures are being prepared or initiated,” the spokesperson emphasized.
The 12:00 p.m. rule has been in effect since April 1 and stipulates that gas stations may raise prices only once a day—at 12:00 p.m. Price reductions, on the other hand, are always permitted. The regulation was introduced after the war in Iran led to sharp increases in fuel prices.