http://fox40.trb.com/news/ktxl-081606ta ... txl-news-1
New Regulations For Taco Trucks

August 16, 2006

LODI -- The city of Lodi is forcing vendors, especially taco trucks, to comply with laws that were never required until now. Taco truck customers and employees alike are feeling the heat.

Joseph Wood, an employee with the city of Lodi said, "It's a pretty strict prohibition against them operating on private property."

These regulations mean vendors must operate one hundred feet from stop lights and signs and three hundred feet from schools, meaning many taco stands could be pushed out of business. Maria Lopez has owned a popular Taco truck for almost three years. "I don't understand why they're doing this now. We get people from the city, from everywhere, theres people from stockton, valley springs." And now theres a list of those supporting of her business.

Eddy Abujen of Stockton said, "To see this taco truck leave it would be sorry or depressing." Regulations also require trucks to be self-contained with approved restroom facilities. Wood said, "We have caught folks up against the side of building or up against a trailer and it turns out it's the person handling the food."

Stockton resident Willy Davis said he agrees with the regulations, but thinks there should be exceptions, "Not all taco trucks are the same, thats why this one's busy."

Lopez said, "We live off of these trucks we work everyday, work sometimes over 12 hours a day. It's gonna affect a lot of people."
Copyright © 2006, KTXL