Thread: Food Vendor Crackdown Spurs Revolt

Food Vendor Crackdown Spurs Revolt
Monday, December 3, 2007; Page D02


The dozens of mobile food truck vendors that had plied their trades along the waysides of Prince George's County had mostly disappeared. Police said they issued up to 200 tickets over the past two months, after several weeks attempting to warn vendors that they were operating illegally did not dissuade them.

But advocates for the vendors, most of whom are Hispanics who operate in Langley Park, say they will not go quietly. Today, a lawyer who is representing many of the vendedores plans to file suit against the county in Prince George's County Circuit Court.


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Ivan Yacub, a lawyer in Falls Church who handles many immigration cases, said he would protest the county's use of a section of the legal code that regulates commercial buses, trailers and trucks. By his reading of the statute, Yacub said in an e-mail, only commercial trucks parked overnight or on the weekends may be issued a ticket. Most of the vendors leave at the end of the day.

One night last week, a county police officer trying to impound a vending truck in the 8200 block of New Hampshire Avenue was confronted by an angry crowd of vendors. One man picked up an orange construction barrel and began walking toward the officer, said District 1 Commander Maj. Kevin Davis. She drew her firearm and pointed it at the man, who dropped the barrel and fled, Davis said.

"The issuance of these particular citations are just a tool, a means to get to an end," Davis said. "The vending is, in and of itself, an illegal activity," in violation of parking, health and often zoning laws.

More than a decade ago, the Prince George's Council ordered a halt to street sales of barbecue, crabs, pupusas and other foods from vending trucks. But the operations never really disappeared, in part because of legal challenges and apparent confusion over the law.


-- Anita Huslin


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01507.html

These people just don't like to abide by the laws, do they? I'd like to know just how many laws they are breaking, i'm sure we would be shocked when added up.

They're getting bold messing with the cops. If they keep it up, they'll find out what we already know...you don't mess with the cops. They always win. (And, I have no problem with that )

Health laws is all it takes. Send an inspector in there.

Zoning laws would work.

Surely one needs a permit to do this. My goodness many cities here in Texas demand one purchase a permit to have garage sale in your own yard. Some cities limit how many you can have a year and what you can sell. One city's statutes states you can't sell anything new. A policeman makes the rounds on garage sales days and checks everyone's permit and tickets anyone whose is not tacked up in a prominent place.

They can enforce the laws - if they are inclined to do it.

The article tells me one of two things may be true.

1. All the vendors are hispanics and they refuse to obey the law.

OR

2. The non-hispanic vendors stopped and all that are left are hispanic vendors who refuse to obey the law.

They want to file suit because they want to keep on engaging in an illegal activity and their refusal to obey the laws? Does anyone else see the irony here?

Originally Posted by miguelina

The article tells me one of two things may be true.

1. All the vendors are hispanics and they refuse to obey the law.

OR

2. The non-hispanic vendors stopped and all that are left are hispanic vendors who refuse to obey the law.

They want to file suit because they want to keep on engaging in an illegal activity and their refusal to obey the laws? Does anyone else see the irony here?

Absolutely...

The don't call them "Roach Coach's" for nothing...

I think a few cases of Montezuma's revenge might take care of the problem.

It's completely gross. Who would buy that food? Yuck.