Santa Ana Vendors Are in Business Again

Santa Ana truck vendors who closed down last week were up and running Monday after a federal judge stopped the city from enforcing a new ordinance requiring the rolling convenience stores to move every 90 minutes.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter issued a temporary restraining order late Friday, allowing the vendors to park in residential neighborhoods to sell fruit, soda and candy.

Some vendors had been closed since Wednesday, the day Santa Ana officials said they would begin enforcing the ordinance, said Giovanni Orantes, an attorney representing 62 vendors who sued the city Friday.

Carter’s order was issued shortly after the vendors’ complaint was filed. Orantes said the ordinance was unconstitutional because it targeted Latino vendors, prevented them from conducting business and had no “rational relationship to upholding public safety.”

With a restraining order in place for 10 days, the trucks opened Saturday. “My clients are celebrating,” Orantes said. City Atty. Joseph W. Fletcher said the city would comply with the order.

The Santa Ana City Council approved the ordinance in October but said at the time it would wait until February to enforce it to allow for time to explain the new rules to vendors.

A federal court hearing is scheduled for March 20. Orantes said he would seek an extension of Carter’s restraining order beyond March 13.

Meanwhile, a suit challenging the ordinance filed on behalf of three vendors is pending in Orange County Superior Court.