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Immigration probe uncovers possible ice cream truck ban
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Related Topics: Manassas
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Two patrons at an ice cream truck. A civic association discovered that Manassas’ proliferation laws actually outlaw ice cream trucks.
Manassas (Map, News) - The summertime chimes of the ice cream truck rounding the bend are as iconic in Manassas as anywhere else, but a new crackdown on unregulated peddlers has put the tasty tradition in limbo.
A civic investigation into a proliferation of ice cream pushcarts, taco stands and other ultra-small businesses helped the town realize its laws actually prohibited ice cream trucks from selling cool treats on city streets.
“The law on the books seemed to ban the ice cream truck,” said Liz Via, director of community development.
On Monday night, the Manassas City Council voted to ask the Land Use Committee to continue studying how to crack down on peddlers.
“We’re going to look for ways to tighten up the application process and make things run a little smoother,” Via said.
For years, the police and city officials had not been aware of the strict language of the law. Vendors were allowed to operate under licenses issued to another person, and prohibitions against sales in parks and along roadways and sidewalks were not enforced.
When a group famous for cracking down on illegal immigration began investigating the pushcarts and taco stands, they turned local ice cream vending into a hot topic.
“We started asking, ‘What if the food isn’t being held to standard? What if they are operating without licenses?’ ” said Steve Thomas, director of operations for the 500-person civic group Help Save Manassas. The group, which helped vocalize outrage over illegal immigration in neighboring Prince William County, began looking at the 14 individual peddling permits.
Almost all the new vendors, and the existing ones, were violating the city’s peddling statute by either operating without a $500 permit or not following the policies set forth by the city.
“I get a lot of calls on it,” Manassas Police Sgt. Tim Neumann said. “An officer goes out and checks to see if there is a license. … More often, they don’t have one.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:52 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 16, 2007 re: "Immigration probe uncovers possible ice cream truck ban"
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12:27 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 25, 2007
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12:04 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 24, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Enforce the laws, a good thing to do. But that just makes the city richer, it doesn't do anything about immigration reform. An illegal immigrant can buy a car, pay registration fees, pay any kind of fee imposed on them for anything. Why do you think that is? because the only thing people care about is money.
132 agree | 142 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
lol! This is what you get when you have a do nothing police chief and a lame, scared mayor.
158 agree | 166 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They probably don't even carry Insurance coverage To cover the cost's If somebody were to get sick from their food and had to go to the Hospital. Or if they cart or Ice-Cream truck hurt someone.
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Examiner Reader said:
As much as I love Virginia, there are a lot of issues going on over there. I dont see any illegals over there as much as here in Texas. LOL
155 agree | 163 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Of course the illegal aliens don't have permits. They don't have visas, no driver's licenses, no insurance and generally feel that no laws really apply to them anyway. Start enforcing the laws.
145 agree | 175 disagree
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