Food trucks have always been a part of the American economy and urban life providing delicious, unique, and quick food to communities. Recently street vending has been growing in popularity across all of the United States mainly due to the low start-up cost. The trade offers numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs, immigrants, and others with little income. The recent popularity has raised the need to reevaluate current food truck laws. The big issue with owning and running food trucks now is the inconsistent regulations and enforcement that rule in favor of the outnumbering restaurants surrounding them. The purpose of the regulations are highly controversial, the most disputed being proximity bans of food trucks near brick and mortar restaurants.
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Many of these outrageous regulations prevent mobile vendors from operating at a successful level or from operating period. The most common law prohibits food trucks from parking within 300ft (200ft in other states) of any food licensed business without permission from them. This remains true even for food trucks operating on private property that they own or lease and those using legal public parking space. Food licensed businesses, include not only restaurants, but grocery and convenience stores as well. Institute of Justice attorney Arif Panju is part of the lawsuit held by San Antonio food truck owners that challenges the city’s law in court. His position holds that “No one should need their competitors’ permission to run a business.” That’s like requiring mom-and-pop- hardware stores to get permission from Home Depot to open down the street. The 300-foot rule does nothing to help consumers. It only helps restaurants to eliminate their competition. It is an egregious example of unconstitutional economic
Many of these outrageous regulations prevent mobile vendors from operating at a successful level or from operating period. The most common law prohibits food trucks from parking within 300ft (200ft in other states) of any food licensed business without permission from them. This remains true even for food trucks operating on private property that they own or lease and those using legal public parking space. Food licensed businesses, include not only restaurants, but grocery and convenience stores as well. Institute of Justice attorney Arif Panju is part of the lawsuit held by San Antonio food truck owners that challenges the city’s law in court. His position holds that “No one should need their competitors’ permission to run a business.” That’s like requiring mom-and-pop- hardware stores to get permission from Home Depot to open down the street. The 300-foot rule does nothing to help consumers. It only helps restaurants to eliminate their competition. It is an egregious example of unconstitutional economic