SDPD to begin citing illegal food vendors in Gaslamp Quarter
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The Gaslamp Quarter may soon be without illegal street vendors.
Starting Friday, a team of San Diego police officers will begin ticketing and possibly impounding illegal food carts. Officers will start by giving warnings on Thursday — the same day fans will fill Petco Park for the Padres home opener.
“Tomorrow’s opening day. PD is going to go out and educate the vendors that enforcement will begin on Friday,” CEO of Gaslamp Quarter Michael Trimble said to KUSI on Wednesday.
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Some nights in the Gaslamp Quarter, sidewalk food vendors have seemingly outnumbered the brick and mortar restaurants.
“Any given night you can have 40 to 60 vendors up and down Fifth Avenue, 10 per corner. It’s just out of control,” Trimble said.
In 2018, California enacted the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, decriminalizing sidewalk vending statewide. In 2022, the San Diego City Council approved an ordinance establishing regulations for sidewalk vending, including requiring vending permits and restricting vending in some areas, including Gaslamp Quarter.
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“It’s going to happen,” Trimble added. “They have the ability to impound, and there’s a four-man team that is dedicated to vendor enforcement. They’re going to be training additional officers to make sure they’re compliant with the laws.”
Watch Dan Plante’s report from Gaslamp Quarter in the video player above.
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