ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE

Orange County cities in recent years have wrestled with the regulation of vending trucks that park on city streets to peddle their fruits, vegetables and other items.

A Superior Court judge has ruled that Santa Ana’s attempt to control the trucks went too far. Judge Ronald L. Bauer said state law already covers the issues addressed by Santa Ana’s 1994 ordinance on vending trucks. The decision appears fair and should be a reminder to other cities with similar measures of the need to maneuver carefully on the issue.

Opponents include residents who complain of litter left behind and streets blocked by trucks and customers. Store owners complain that the vendors steal their customers and operate with the advantage of not paying rent.

There is a need to regulate the trucks, but there is no need to put them out of business. Yet some cities’ laws seem designed for that effect.

Fullerton, for instance, has an ordinance that took effect this month requiring the trucks to move every 15 minutes. That’s too short a time. Even Santa Ana’s 30-minute limit seems a bit much. Santa Ana also banned trucks from parking within 500 feet of schools, parks, recreation areas and other vending vehicles and within 200 feet of intersections. That does not leave much room for operation.

Contrast that with the rules in San Juan Capistrano, which allows truck vendors and pushcart operators to work in nine different neighborhoods during daylight hours, so long as they move to a new spot at least once an hour. The city also limits the number of people who can hold vending licenses.

City officials developed their ordinance two years ago by meeting with street vendors to reach an agreement fair to all sides. It appears to have worked. Other cities might follow suit.