HAINES CITY, Fla. — Haines City commissioners have dropped a proposal that would have made changes to the city’s food truck ordinance.
The decision came after opponents of the idea claimed it would amount to a food truck ban.
The city adopted a first reading of the ordinance on Jan. 16. Under the ordinance, the city would have stopped issuing business tax receipts food trucks need to operate. It would have also required food trucks to stay at least 500 feet away from any existing food business.
The national nonprofit Institute for Justice wrote a letter to city officials asking them not to pass the changed ordinance, saying it violates both state law and Florida’s constitution.
“Every single version that the city has considered thus far would not serve the public health and safety. It would just protect restaurants from competition, which is unconstitutional,” said IJ Attorney Katrin Marquez, who testified against the restrictions during Thursday night’s meetings.
“The state of Florida already regulates food trucks; the city should not be adding additional burdens on these hard-working people,” he said in a statement issued Friday.
Spectrum News Staff
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