Lunch wagon crackdown

Reported by: Olena Heu
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Updated: 12/30/2011 6:16 am

The latest food craze sweeping the nation has also taken off here in Hawaii.

Gourmet lunch trucks can be found on streets across town but many lunch wagon owners say they could be forced out of business because of an out of date law. 

Lunch wagons in Hawaii have long been known as a quick and easy way to grab something delicious to eat.

"We are really trying to be enterprising in an economy that's down and we are trying to create work for ourselves," said Camille Komine, Camille's On Wheels.

Former television set decorator and food stylist Camille Komine took her culinary skills to the streets a year ago and has received national acclaim for her fusion tacos and homemade pies. But recently Camille along with several others say their future has become uncertain.

Recently Honolulu Police officers started enforcing a city ordinance, originally written in 1978, that states "It is unlawful for any itinerant vendor... to carry on or solicit business in one location on any street or on any public highway for a period of more than 15 minutes."

"It has put at least one vendor out of business because he can't set up in 15 minutes," said Komine.

The citation comes with a fine of $500 per person and up to 30 days in jail and has lunch truck operators driving scared.

"It doesn't allow a food truck to operate in any capacity," said Joe Twarowski, Chicago Eatz.

Police officials say "The HPD has received complaints from the community regarding the lunch trucks taking up some of the limited parking spaces in the area. For the past few months our officers have been educating the vendors about the law and have been giving them warnings. After repeated warnings, some of the vendors have been ticketed."

"We are providing a service for people, we don't park in front of other businesses out of respect," said Komine.

But are they breaking the law?

"The way the law is written some of them probably are but you know so were black people who sat at certain lunch counters," said Marcus Landsberg, trial attorney.

City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard introduced a bill Thursday seeking to increase the time limit to two hours.

"They are complying with the law in every other area, the problem that we are seeing here is an outdated law," said Tulsi Gabbard, Honolulu City Council.

"I am a very small business and the irony of being chased out of business is pretty unbelievable." said Komine.

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jaytee - 1/31/2012 11:58 AM
0 Votes
Lunch wagons need to comply with every law which applies to them whether it be State health standards or City parking ordinances. If they don't like the laws lobby to get the laws changed. Maybe the City or State should create at vehicle tax rate which applies to lunch wagons or other mobile services that set up shop and sell next to a competitor that pays property tax. We own a brick and mortar business and pay 20k++/year in property taxes in addition to the rent on a 6000 sf property. I feel for any restaurant owner who has a lunch wagon roll up and set up shop in front of their business. Personally it does not sound like the law is out of date. I have seen these big wagons set up on a busy street taking up 2 maybe 3 spaces without feeding the meters. The customers these wagons attract, park in front of fire hydrants, in no parking zones and in neighbor's driveways illegally and with no regard the problems they cause. If this "out of date" law is changed, there would be a need for tighter regulation and enforcement of this industry. Can I open a restaurant with no parking, no restroom, no running water on a sidewalk in downtown Honolulu as it is done in 3rd world countries like Thailand.

pogo808 - 1/4/2012 11:00 PM
1 Vote
Sorry, here is the link to the picture. You just need to copy and paste onto your navigate bar to see it. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270974346266951&set=pu.213206095377110&type=1&theater

pogo808 - 1/4/2012 10:54 PM
1 Vote
These lunch wagons parked on Ward, in front of other small businesses and large chain restaurants such as Kanpai, Fish Tacos, Bale, McDonald and etc... They do not have any respect for other surrounding restaurant business ( whether large or small). This picture was post on one of the lunch wagons' facebook. See the link to the picture http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270974346266951&set=pu.213206095377110&type=1&theater They took the parking spaces from tax payer to do business and took away customers from small business who are also trying to earn a living and at the same time have to pay a fair lease rent. Pretty soon, we'll have a lot more lunch wagons on the island if we don't control it.

jusme101 - 1/2/2012 10:47 AM
0 Votes
Do you really need a parking space that bad ???? O M G.... you petty little troll.... let the man make a living already...

bluesasuke - 12/31/2011 6:55 PM
1 Vote
I totally disagree with this ridiculous and outdated law. Why is Hawaii trying to get rid of small business owners who are just trying to lead honest lives? How else are they supposed to get by in these hard times? As long as lunch trucks aren't creating problems with other neighboring businesses, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to operate on the street for more than 15 minutes. Lunch trucks are a convenient and affordable way for many workers to have a meal each day. I for one was raised off of my parents' small lunch wagon for so many years now. I know from experience that running a lunch truck is hard as is. My parents have to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to prepare for the day. They do backbreaking labor just to put food on the table. And now to add on to our troubles, the police are enforcing a ridiculous law that could possibly jeopardize the well being of our family. Just like any other business, we pay taxes and are health department certified. I highly advocate for a repeal or revision of this outdated law so that lunch wagon owners like my parents can continue to do business and stay above the unemployment line.

kailuaohana - 12/31/2011 10:15 AM
2 Votes
I think if these lunch wagons want to operate, they should be required to pay for stalls as do restaurants pay for their lease obligations monthly. Some of the lunch trucks are shady anyway. They cook their meals in their own houses and serve them as they were making them in legitimate restaurants that are governed by law and are required to follow those laws. Lunch trucks should be made to do the same. If I had a restaurant and had a lunch truck move in across from me and sitting in a meter parked stall and taking my customers away because of the convenience of not crossing the street, I would be ticked too. Mom and Pop Stores will become a wave of the past if laws are not followed accordingly....

xterra - 12/31/2011 10:00 AM
2 Votes
Tax the lunch wagons more than resturants. They are trying to get away with nothing. And they are unsightly here in Hawaii too.

cruiser808 - 12/30/2011 3:22 PM
1 Vote
These trucks are only there about 3 hours per day, and they provide a convenience and service for those who want to partake of their food. In most places, there are only a couple of trucks taking up space, and if they are paying for parking, and complying with other regulations, they should be allowed to stay. This archaic law needs to be changed and a reasonable time limit set for permitted vendors.

Limpet - 12/30/2011 12:53 PM
0 Votes
Could it be HPD is looking for some freebies?

stretch - 12/30/2011 11:18 AM
3 Votes
HPD's priority is to get funds like lunch wagon, and ONLY goes after HOMELESS if NUTHIN else to do. See HawaiiNewsNow report excerpt: "Twenty days after Honolulu mayor Peter Carlisle signed a law enabling the city to impound public property stored in public places, the law has yet to be enforced. Ordinance 11-29 (formerly Bill 54) is aimed at keeping public places free of clutter and accessible to all by allowing the city to remove personal items. In mid-December Moiliili resident Christal Cuadra asked the city to clear the sidewalk along King Street fronting Old Stadium Park of personal property belonging to homeless people living there. The items are still on the sidewalk. The homeless who live there say they have not been given notice to remove anything."

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