State Supreme Court Upholds Food Truck Regulations in Chicago

A question of whose business is suppressing whose in the city of Chicago was decided by the State Supreme Court.

1 minute read

May 24, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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"The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Chicago’s food truck regulations are constitutional and that the city can protect restaurants from their wheeled competitors," reports Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz.

"The court affirmed the ruling of the appellate court and the circuit court in a lawsuit that claimed Chicago’s food truck restrictions suppress competition," according to Elejalde-Ruiz.

The owner of a food truck called Cupcakes for Courage brought the original lawsuit against a rule in Chicago that prohibited "food trucks from parking within 200 feet of any establishment that serves food — a category that includes convenience stores with hot dog rollers," explains Elejalde-Ruiz. The lawsuit challenged other aspects of the law, including a requirement that food trucks carry a GPS unit for tracking by the city.

The State Supreme Court uphold the law by noting the city's interest in the long-term stability of brick and mortar restaurant businesses.

Thursday, May 23, 2019 in Chicago Tribune

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