Legal fight continues over new ordinance forcing downtown food trucks to close earlier

CBS 58

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A motion hearing was held in court Friday, June 12, in the legal fight over Milwaukee's new ordinance that would force downtown food trucks to shut down at 10 p.m. instead of one in the morning. 

A restraining order put that law on hold, and one food truck owner has filed a lawsuit, claiming the law is unconstitutional. 

Supporters of the law believe closing the food trucks earlier could reduce late night violence downtown. At Friday's motion hearing, a Milwaukee police captain was asked about the impact of late-night crowds in the district where the food trucks operate. 

"If we start getting a mass amount of people in the entertainment district where we need to bring in additional backup officers," said Captain Robert Thiel. "That could impact the amount of officers patrolling other districts. We try very hard not to cause that impact, but it has happened over the years."

Food truck operators argue that being forced to close at 10 p.m. would kill their business. A decision in this case is expected within the next week. 

Until then, the restraining order against the new closing time remains in effect. 


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