Friday, April 11, 2014
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Should city allow mobile-food vendors? by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Should mobile-food vendors be licensed to operate in Sartell? That’s the question being pondered by Anita Rasmussen, the city’s director of planning and community development. The issue will likely come up for city-council consideration this spring. Rasmussen said the definition of mobile-food vehicle vendors are those that are self-contained trucks or trailers used to serve food within a parking lot, on private property or possibly in some parks. An example, Rasmussen noted, would be a vendor selling tacos from a vehicle that were prepared by the vendor inside that vehicle. The city’s vending ordinance does allow currently for food vehicles such as the Schwann food-products trucks and a neighborhood ice-cream vending vehicle.
H o w e v e r, those vending vehicles are different because they sell foods that have been pre- Rasmussen packaged, not made within the vehicles. Rasmussen said she has heard concerns from some people that mobile-food vehicle vendors would be competing with the typical “brickand-mortar” food establishments currently in the city that pay city taxes. Rasmussen is seeking more input from people on that concern and others, such as: • Is changing the city ordinance to accommodate such food-vending vehicles a good idea or not? • Should the city allow it because it would provide convenient fast food to employees who may not have a long lunch break?
photo by Wayne Djiubinski, www.minnpost.com
Food trucks lining Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis on a sunny July day.
• Are there any other concerns for or against changing the ordinance? Anyone with comments should email them to Rasmussen at anita@sartellmn.com.
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What is the law regarding motorists flashing lights to warn others of speed traps?
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Q: There was a very recent ruling by a judge that motorists can legally flash their lights to warn other motorists of a speed trap. How does this affect law enforcement and is this issue that simple, or is there a lot more to it than that? Thanks. A: I’ve heard of the ruling, but have not yet read any specific legal documents related to that ruling. Remember, our traffic law in Minnesota requires dimming your bright lights within 1,000 feet of meeting another vehicle, and that still stands. M.S.S. 169.61 (b) states: “When the driver of a vehicle approaches a vehicle within 1,000 feet, such driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver.” When you are meeting another driver and they flash their lights at you, the first thing most drivers think of is that maybe you have your own
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bright lights on and the other driver is trying to get you to dim them. Other reasons motorists flash their lights is to warn of a hazard, like deer on or near the highway, objects in the roadway or a host of other reasons or hazards. I suppose it differs from where you live, but in my circles, the least of all reasons motorists are flashing their headlights is to warn someone of a speed trap. I don’t think it’s a big topic of discussion in many law-enforcement circles. The main point is, when another driver flashes their headlights at you, are you always going to know the exact rea-
son why? If some drivers think there is a speed trap ahead and they slow down, then we are “money ahead” it seems and we have one less speeding driver out on the highway. I am not sure, but that is probably why the ruling came out, and it is no surprise and nothing new really. If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Hwy. 10 W., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205 or follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@ state.mn.us.
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ELECTION JUDGES NEEDED • County Training Provided • Mileage for Training Paid • Primary Election, Aug. 12 • Election Day, Nov. 4 • Pay $8 per hour/mileage ~ per federal guidelines • Election Day Hours: 6:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Pick your hours! Please contact City Clerk Cris Drais Email: crisdrais@midconetwork.com • Phone: 320-290-0424