Deputies serve taco truck owner with a ticket

There's another skirmish to report in the taco truck wars. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies have apparently begun issuing tickets for violations of a new law that imposes stiffer penalties for lunch trucks parking in unincorporated sections of the county, reports Hoy (story in Spanish). 

Alejandro Valdovino, owner of a catering truck called "La Flor de Sahuayo," said he got slapped with a ticket earlier this week in East Los Angeles.

"Yesterday, I didn't even have time to move, the police officer just arrived with a ticket in hand."

-- Jesus Sanchez

Customers line up at a taco truck in Highland Park. Photo: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times 

Comments

[Janet]

It's hard to believe that the police don't have anything better to do. I guess the gang problem has been solved then? I must have missed that story.

And taco trucks are a great alternative for those of us who can't afford sit-down restaurants. It looks like the City's plan to make Los Angeles completely unaffordable and unliveable is moving right along.

[George]

I find it downright absurd to call it "skirmish" when an existing law is enforced. Please review your language use and civic attitude. Thank you!

[About time]

Keep up the enforcement! We can not allow others to break the law so brazeningly just because many think it unworthy of enforcement.

The law is the law! If you want to change then write your elected officials
but until then support law enforcement for doing their jobs.

[Lili.C]

"skirmish"[ unimportant conflict]...mmm yeah selling tacos is not as important as fighting drug dealers, gangsters, idiots commiting hate crimes,....
Now LAPD coming against innocent people is absurd... GOD Help Us...

[Allen]

Good! It's about time those cheaters finally get what they deserve. I say run them all out of town, straight back to Mexico where they belong! They've been hurting American businesses that have investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars for years. Just because they do it in Mexico doesn't mean they can do it here. But like any other Mexican, they'll lie, cheat or steal to get ahead of everyone else. Get rid of the squatters.

[Mike]

Taco Trucks are a blight on the neighborhood. If you want to sell tacos in one area open a restaurant. This will help to improve the areas in which they sell tacos.

[Mike]

Taco Trucks are a blight on the neighborhood. If you want to sell tacos in one area open a restaurant. This will help to improve the areas in which they sell tacos.

[Sean K]

Wow. I knew there was a lot of anti-mexican sentiment out there (you can call it 'anti-illegal immigrant' all you want, but you know damn well you hate the mexicans that were born here just as much you lying racists), but I had no idea there was this level of ugly, vicious hatred. You people who are so adamant about this 'evil scourge' and how much it 'destroys other small businesses' clearly must be from west hollywood or beverly hills. If you don't want to have to look at the big bad diabolical taco truck, then stay hiding from the real world in your fantasyland neighborhoods where you belong.

[O'Dawg]

It's past time. I hope this enforcement extends to the proliferation of trucks that have sprouted in South Los Angeles as well. And to idiots who think that the police should focus more time stopping gang members, why don't you spend more time getting gang members to hang around after a drive-by so the police can catch them. Until then, I'll see you at my local Mexican RESTAURANT

[Todd Guild]

Just because something is against the law, that doesn't make it wrong.

It used to be illegal for women to vote, and slavery used to be perfectly legal.

And making a law against something doesn't preclude dialogue or debate about it.

Writing tickets for operating a taco truck in the wrong place is an egregious wasdte of police resources.

[Karl in Burbank]

Good to see them cracking down on the grifters....

[Raul Garcia]

Goes to show where are city government's priorities lie.

What a joke, these people are licensed to do business, why should the government intervene because the brick and mortar companies can't find a way to compete.

[Lauren]

If you don't like the Taco Trucks, then don't buy from them. If the restaurants serve better food than the taco trucks for decent prices, then people would naturally go to the restaurants. Let capitalism take its course and stop wasting policemen on taco trucks, and in monitering the crosswalk at 7th and Fig (they cite people for walking across while the hand is flashing -- $150 for WALKING safely).
LAPD-- ticketing taco trucks and pedestrians instead of addressing gang issues and shootings. :|

[Marcos El Malo]

Gloria Molina, the E. L.A. supervisor who introduced this ordenance, is up for re-election on June 3rd, as are the other supes that enacted it.

Frankly, the racism exhibited by the anti-immgrant types is disgusting. Almost as bad are those suburb dwellers wringing their hands over the "blight" of the taco trucks. Please, stay in your neat little malls.

Thank God this is not happening in the City of L.A. (a fact some of you seem to have missed. Hint: Sherrif generally means L.A. County.) Unfortunately, once a county supervisor is elected, it is just about impossible to remove them. No incumbent has lost an election since 1982.

[steve s]

I'm completely opposed to the recent crackdown, agreeing with those that say it's a massive waste of law enforcement resources not to mention a blatant example of scapegoating.

More than anything else though, I'm saddened by the hatred and racism that so many seem entirely comfortable spewing and perpetuating.

Support your local taco trucks!
Your gym will thank you.

[Natalia C.]

Allen, get real and get a life! What will attacking Mexicans accomplish? If I didn't pity you, I'd be offended by your comments. Can't imagine what kind of life experience(s) you must have had to harbor so much hate. Sad, really. I truly hope someday you can move on. Anyhow, we Mexicans here aren't leaving anytime soon, so deal with it. Many of these taco truck owners are just as American as anyone else. I don't believe disseminating prejudice was the purpose of this article. These taco truck owners are legitimately (in most cases) operating out of a unit, albeit, on wheels, and catering to a specific customer segment. Simple rules of supply and demand in action. They wouldn't be around if there wasn't a need. Embracing opportunity, how much more American could they possibly be?

[David]

To those who say that the police should be spending time thwarting gangs, that's exactly what they are doing when they ticket these unregulated rolling "food estabishments," since many of these "health violations on wheels" park in gang-infested areas at night, providing service to gang members selling drugs.
One important point for those who enjoy the product from these trucks, how do you know what exactly it is you're eating, or the quality control, and potential health violation regarding these unregulated food establishments?
If you get violently ill, or worse, good luck locating the right truck for any legal redress.
Grow a brain and quit trying to defend people undermining established, property tax paying businesses.
It's not fair, it's not safe, it's not pro-business.

[HowardNYC]

If they are using police rookies to write the tickets, fine... so long as the retial locations are as heavily targetted too.

But if these are the high ranking, higher paid twenty year veterns on overtime -- as perlude for pumping up pensions -- then there had better be soemthing done

[Bill Withers]

99% of all taco truck owners are illegal immigrants, This isn't about taco trucks, or meaningless fines, it is about people who don't take the proper route to obtain citizenship........

Anyone can work a taco truck, but who better to do it than skill-less workers who can't speak english.....

[Megan T]

The "taco truck ordinance" is an unfortunate, racist, and at this point, legal measure that will ultimately put thousands of people out of business. Instead of sending people to eat at so-called "legitimate" businesses, it's going to mean that far more people brown-bag it. To Lili C., and others with a similar perspective, I ask: where would you go if you were told to return to the place from whence you came? All of us, at one point or another in our family lineage, are immigrants here...unless of course you happen to be Native American. I myself would have to be chopped into at least five pieces.
The taqueros are out there trying to make a living like everyone else. They aren't taking away from other business, they've created a niche that has become a fundamental part of Los Angeles community. LA is a taco town, and I for one, don't want to see that change. If you agree, get out there and let the sups know so that this crucial institution doesn't fade away! By the way...I'm betting there are a lot of cops who aren't sure where to go on their lunch breaks right about now...

[666]

I think they really need to get rid of them they are eye sores and attract undesirables. I am sick of them and the produce trucks that park in various parts of the city.

[MB]

so now we can't even insist taco trucks keep out of residential neighborhoods....creating unsanitary messes on my front lawn...without being called racist.

you stiffle debate with name calling and the race card...and make it impossible for debate at all.....AND SOMEHOW I'M TO BLAME.

STOP THE RECONQUISTA.

[Alex Hernanadez]

Serving tickets to Taco truck is a laid back kind of thing for officers---instead of controlling gangs issue and crime in our neighborhood.

[Malby]

@ Sean K. and Natalia C.

Sean says that the commenters "hate the mexicans that were born here just as much" as Mexican immigrants--the Mexicans who were BORN here? I thought people born here were Americans. Or am I wrong? Natalia C. says "Mexicans here aren't leaving anytime soon, so deal with it." Seems llike you may have hit upon a major factor in the commenters' frustration--assimilation or the lack of it. Don't come here and insist that our laws be changed to accommodate your lifestyles. Los Angeles is on its way to becoming Tijuana. You may think that's a good thing. Many of us who work hard and pay taxes do not.