Should Food Trucks Be Allowed Statewide?
Chicago just issued its first license allowing people to cook and sell items on food trucks. Patch wants to know if a similar law should be approved statewide? Tell us in the comment section below.
The Chicago City Council recently issued its first “on-board” cooking license to Dan Salls, owner of the Salsa Truck, the Chicago Tribune reported.
While mobile dining has been around in the U.S. since the 1600s, the idea has gained in popularity in recent years, with shows like The Great Food Truck Race, and the prestigious Zagat guide starting to review food trucks in 2011, according to Mobile-Cusine.com.
Food trucks are allowed in some Chicago suburbs, such as Evanston, but not in all communities.
Patch wants to know: Should food trucks be allowed statewide? Tell us in the comments section below.
The City of Evanston passed a food truck ordinance in 2010, which allows businesses with a physical restaurant within city limits to apply for a food vehicle vendors’ license. A judge recently sided with the City of Evanston in a dispute with Chicago-based food truck Beavers Coffee and Donuts, which argued the city’s policy is unconstitutional because it discriminated against businesses that were not Evanston-based, the Daily Northwestern reported.
Along the North Shore, the City of Highland Park is also considering allowing food trucks after receiving more than 25 permit requests in 2012. By comparison, the Village of Deerfield reports getting only two inquiries last year, so it's not a big issue yet.
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Robyn Mendelsohn
9:17 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Absolutely food trucks should be allowed state-wide! No reason that the rest of us who live outside of Chgo or other areas where these are allowed shouldn't be able to enjoy these specialty items. Some of the best food you can get in Austin, TX comes from food trucks!
Rob Quinn
11:06 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Yes. They should be licensed ($$$), regulated by local agency, and Health Departments.
C. Johnson
11:12 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
No problem here as America was build the the entrepreneurial spirit. I don't agree with the Evanston ruling as they are losing a revenue stream, but that's government trying to protect where free market should prevail.
Roxi Crawford
3:22 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Yes they should be allowed!