(Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar / Flickr)
CHICAGO (AP) - A Cook County circuit court judge has ruled against a Chicago food truck operator in a case involving city rules requiring mobile eateries to do business at least 200 feet from restaurants.
Judge Anna Helen Demacopoulos upheld the 200-foot rule Monday along with another rule requiring food trucks to use a city GPS tracking device.
Lawyers for Laura Pekarik, who has operated "Cupcakes for Courage" food truck for five years, had argued food truck owners have been hamstrung by the rules. They said Monday they plan to appeal the decision.
Their lawsuit argued Chicago can't protect restaurants from competition and that the tracking devices are an illegal search under the Illinois Constitution.
The judge said Monday the law allows the city to strike a balance between competitive businesses.