Hoist with their own petard: Food Truck Edition

Live by regulation, die by regulation.

When competition heated up for food vendors in the Austin, Texas area, Tom Ramsey, the owner of already-established Snappy Snacks pushed for tougher rules to address health, safety, and environmental concerns.

He got what he wished for.

Since November, nine of his 53 trucks (which he leases to independent operators) have not passed or would be unable to pass the certification process.

But at least he's a real "law and order" guy, who's worked things out with the people who were leasing the trucks, so they don't take a loss because the trucks he leases them don't have valid permits. Right?

Saldaña said Ramsey is leaving it up to the vendors to decide whether they want to continue doing business with expired permits and that he believed some were still operating.

"This is how they get food on the table, and some of them are willing to take the risks," Saldaña said. Operators who are cited can face fines of $1,000 per day, Davis said.

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