Comments on: Food Trucks Claim Victory as Judge Tosses Loitering Charge

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:44:00 +0000

Well, if it’s right in front of their property, then I agree with you, because they’re paying for that property. I don’t have a problem with that. Especially if exhaust fumes or noise can affect the atmosphere of the restaurant, then sure. But I don’t agree with buffer regulations, that essentially give a restaurant the right to tell vendors what to do in parking spaces and storefronts that they’re not paying for either.

By: John K

John K — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:12:15 +0000

Arlington most certainly does have meter maids. If you don’t see them patrolling meters, watch them patrolling Arlington’s remaining surface lots for missing or out-of-date decals or registration.

By: OddNumber

OddNumber — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:10:25 +0000

I don’t disagree with most of your statements, but it does seem like you’re lumping food trucks and B&Ms into a single food service category. However, I think it is much more nuanced and the county is best served by preserving services from both types. The county isn’t picking inidvidual winners and losers, it is simply trying to preserve a mix. Food trucks aren’t outlawed, they are just restricted. The county just has to find a better way to restrict them to ensure that both market segments can thrive.

By: districttaco

districttaco — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:58:10 +0000

Here is a data point from us, District Taco, regarding taxes.

Our food trucks/carts use an iPad-based service called “Square” for cash and credit transactions and we pay the same sales taxes we pay at our restaurants. We have paid the tax since Day 1 almost 4 years ago.

All county taxes are paid through Arlington’s online tax portal (CAPP). We also pay VA state sales taxes on all cart revenue. Similar payments are made for our sales in DC.

Additionally, our cart employees are on payroll just like our restaurant employees and we pay taxes for them as well.

Lastly, we also pay personal property taxes on the carts and equipment as well as health and vending licenses.

As someone who owns both food trucks and restaurants in Arlington and DC, I think this is a healthy debate with a lot of opinions on both sides. However, as far as taxes are concerned, the fact is that our food trucks are subject to and pay similar taxes to brick and mortar restaurants.

By: Quoth the Raven

Quoth the Raven — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:43:35 +0000

Why is it unfair? If the trucks are “syphoning” off potential customers, then your restaurant should offer a better product and thus get those customers to come inside.

How do you know they don’t pay taxes?

By: drax

drax — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:23:59 +0000

You are awarded one FREDTERP.

By: drax

drax — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:23:02 +0000

Sorry, but competition is not “unfair.”

Parking in front of your restaurant is no more unfair than another B&M moving in next door to yours.

Deal with it.

By: speonjosh

speonjosh — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:09:23 +0000

If I open a restaurant directly across the street from an existing restaurant, is that unfair? If not, what’s the difference?
If a food truck siphon’s off customers from a restaurant, it is because their product is superior. This is not a matter of fairness, it is simply a matter of competition. The government does not exist to protect individual businesses from going out of business.
Regulations on food trucks should be limited to those that protext the public at large – safety, health, orderliness, etc.

By: speonjosh

speonjosh — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:03:16 +0000

Yes, the county has an interest in having a vibrant local economy. But picking winners and losers within the restaurant / food truck sector seems a bit much. If a restaurant goes out of business because it couldn’t compete, why would the government get involved? In any case, the whole thing is basically moot because you can’t point to any restaurant that has gone out of business because of food trucks, nor will you (my prediction).

By: In defense of B&Ms

In defense of B&Ms — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:38:42 +0000

As someone who works in a retail store in the Crystal Plaza Shops in Crystal City, I know that our neighboring restaurants are upset, and rightly so, that the food trucks, who pay no taxes, park DIRECTLY in front of their doors, syphoning off their potential customers. This is unfair to these restaurants. Food trucks should not be permitted to park directly in front of restaurabt entrances.