Politics & Government

Food Trucks Allowed to Park, Not Sell on Main Street

Bel Air Commissioners met Monday to conduct town business.




Food and ice cream trucks are not allowed on Main Street, unless it's for personal business in town, Bel Air officials ruled Monday.

Amendments to the itinerant dealer legislation passed earlier this year were approved at Monday's town business meeting after discussion about whether the mobile business can park on Main Street or other forbidden areas if they are not selling at the time.

Commissioner David Carey, a lawyer, joked that if the driver of a food truck needs to see an attorney, he has no problem with them using Main Street to park (see video).

"The main issue is the selling," Commissioner Robert Preston said.

The initial legislation permitting food trucks to sell in certain areas of town was formed with the cooperation of town restaurants and pubs with the agreement that those trucks would not sell on Main and Bond streets where many of those brick and mortar businesses exist.

Some residents complained, however, after food trucks parked on Main Street for Ravens Rallies shortly after the legislation passed.

The amendments, which passed with a unanimous vote Monday, clarify that food trucks include ice cream trucks and are not to sell on Main or Bond streets particularly between Heighe Street and Broadway.

The trucks may, however, park to conduct personal errands or business as long as they are not selling anything from the trucks at the time.

"There's no difference to an ice cream truck and a carpet man when it comes to parking," Carey said.


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