WASHINGTON 鈥� For office workers who don鈥檛 have much variety when it comes to choosing from places to grab a bite, food trucks can spice things up. And in area downtowns, food trucks have been drawing customers looking for food in a hurry.
In two counties, the rules regarding food trucks 鈥� where they operate and how long they can offer meals 鈥� are changing.
In Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, the council adopted three bills. One bill creates 鈥渇ood truck hubs鈥� — areas where the mobile restaurants can offer meals and snacks and provide a kick-start to the local economy.聽A second bill outlines precisely where pop-up聽service by the mobile vendors is allowed.
A third bill deals with regulations, including health and safety requirements, such as聽appropriate use of propane and open-flame cooking.
In Montgomery County, the council approved legislation that allows food trucks to operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Council member Hans Riemer applauded the move, saying that food trucks 鈥渃ontribute to very vibrant urban districts.鈥�
Brick-and-mortar restaurants have complained that food trucks in downtown areas amount to unfair competition, and that they take up spaces that could be used by customers looking for a parking place near聽a sit-down restaurant. Riemer said that issue 鈥渉asn鈥檛 been satisfactorily resolved,鈥� and added that he expected the council would look at it聽in the future.
Riemer says there haven鈥檛 been many documented problems with food trucks, because 鈥渢he way that the rules have been enforced has driven them out. And we鈥檙e trying to change that.鈥�
海角精品黑料鈥檚 Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
