Food Trucks Battle Restaurants and Cities, Even in Chicago

Cities nationwide are experiencing the benefits of food trucks. We are seeing this here in Central Florida. But for years Chicago had not embraced that movement, making them stay more than 200 feet from brick-and-mortar restaurants or face a $2,000 fine.

So in June 2012, when the city announced it would be revising its vending laws, food fans were excited. The law that passed in July, however, continues to make it illegal for food trucks to operate within 200 feet of any fixed business that serves food. The city is also forcing food trucks to install GPS tracking devices that broadcast the trucks' every move. According to the Chicago Tribune, "the ordinance doesn't serve the needs of the lunch-seeking public. It benefits the brick-and-mortar eateries, whose owners don't want the competition."

The Institute for Justice is the nation's leading legal advocate for the rights of entrepreneurs and they have filed a lawsuit.

Innovation sometimes can appear scary and threatening to at first. But ultimately, what is good for the locals is what should rule, not what is good for a few businesses.