The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld the current restrictions in place that prevent food trucks from fully competing in the market. In a lawsuit that was launched several years ago, the court just recently decided to uphold the ban that prevents trucks from parking and doing business within at least 200 feet of restaurants in Chicago.

They also are required to install GPS so that the city can track them.

Some obviously felt that it was a violation of their liberty and an unjust attempt to prevent competition in the food market in the region. As a result of the restrictions, the food truck industry there has allegedly shrunk by more than 40 percent already.

This means that the people in the region are left with fewer choices and having to pay higher prices.

Reducing competition doesn't help to keep the people safe and these sorts of restrictions come across as lawmakers trying to use public power to protect private businesses and their interests. This recent ruling only protects those brick-and-mortar venues, occupational licensing doesn't promote safety for the people, it does the opposite in a variety of ways.

According to an analysis of the 200 foot rule, it's alleged that under current restrictions that food trucks in Chicago would only be able to operate on just 3 percent of the district's curbs.

Anyone caught breaking the rules could face thousands of dollars in fines.

In other regions around the US, food truck restrictions have also been challenged and in some instances the court has reversed those decisions and supported the right and freedom of food truck businesses to compete in the market. It's a shame that the Illinois Supreme Court would rather protect private business interest, than do what's best for the people and their individual liberty, which should include the right to serve others without having to undergo unnecessary market restrictions.

“The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision says that food trucks have to submit to a government search as a condition of operating,...This is a grave threat to all Illinoisans, not just those who run food trucks. People are being forced to choose between their right to privacy and their right to work..... Holding that Chicago may use public power for private gain breaks with over a century of precedent and weakens the constitutional rights of not just food truckers, but all Illinoisans.-- Attorney R. Frommer, lead counsel on the case.

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