News

Washington, D.C. food trucks draw criticism for monopolizing downtown parking spots

February 28, 2018

Food trucks have taken over a set of highly sought after metered parking spaces on a busy southwest Washington, D.C., street, drawing criticism from neighboring businesses and raising questions about the effectiveness of D.C. parking laws, according to nbcwashington.com.

A News4 I-Team investigation captured video of food truck workers maneuvering vehicles to squat on at least six public parking spaces along E Street SW outside NASA headquarters and other smaller federal agencies. The area is not part of D.C.'s 10 officially designated food truck zones the city created five years ago to contain the spread of food trucks and provide a place for them to park.

Businesses along E Street SW have lodged complaints about the maneuvering of the food trucks.

The food truck operators work collaboratively sharing a set of older cars. After the lunch hours are complete, the operators move their food trucks from the metered parking spaces, then move some of their fleet of shared cars into those spaces. This blocks access to those spaces and enables the trucks to squat on the spots around-the-clock and on weekends.

The situation has continued for more than a year, according to truck workers and neighboring businesses.

Truck workers said cars parked overnight at the meters receive parking tickets, which they pay as a cost of their business.

The I-Team uncovered loopholes in DC's enforcement of the food trucks' parking strategy. A parking meter officer said she could not ticket the food trucks along E Street SW since they lacked traditional vehicle makes or model numbers, which are needed for officers to give tickets.

D.C. council member Charles Allen said the trucks are playing a shell game and he is drafting legislation to close the loophole. He said he is also proposing stiffer parking penalties for vehicles that park illegally at meters.