A little "back-office mix-up" at the Department of Health regarding inspection permits has many of the city's mobile food vendors operating in fear. According to DNAinfo, the agency didn't order enough new permits, a required piece of documentation for all food trucks and other on-the-go food operations. Agency spokesperson Levi Fishman revealed it may be as long as five months before the permits are available, meaning trucks and carts could face hassling by the cops in the meantime.
"This is a situation that has the potential to get a little a hairy," Street Vendor Project staff attorney Matthew Shapiro told the website. "If vendors actually get a letter from the DOH, and they can show that to police if they're questioned about an expired permit, I hope that keeps them from getting ticketed. But it's possible they'll get a ticket and incur a long string of hardships, of dealing with courts, just because of the DOH's mistake." Levi says that all appropriate parties have been informed of the issue and insists that "no vendors will be penalized for this error."
Mobile food vendors have faced many operational challenges from towing to parking restrictions; the Street Vendor Project also reveals the DOH has had similar permit ordering issues in the past.
