It’s only early February, but the Biddeford City Council has set new rules for a warm-weather enterprise ”“ ice cream trucks that ply residential streets, trolling for young people with a bit of cash and an appetite.
The rules have raised several objections. Some simply find it politically incorrect to interfere with this simple form of free enterprise. Others can’t get beyond their sentimental fondness for cold, sweet treats and the hurdy-gurdy tunes that advertise them.
Yesterday the Journal gave the council a “Thumbs down” to the rules, but opinion in the office is divided. Government has always strictly regulated peddlers. Part of a 19th century constable’s job was to roust itinerant merchants from vacant lots to protect the business of tax-paying store owners.
The City Council’s intent is to limit ice cream truck enterprises to one vehicle in Biddeford at a time. It seems a fair limit; more than one might take a big scoop out of Biddeford’s ice cream market.
And it certainly seems prudent to prohibit sales on streets with a high volume of traffic. No one wants to see youngsters dashing across Elm Street or Alfred Street to get in line for ice cream. Finally, not everyone enjoys loud and repetitive music, so it’s only fair to residential neighborhoods to require that the driver turn off “Turkey in the Straw” when his truck comes to a stop.
Like many regulations, these are designed to reconcile opposing interests. Entrepreneurs who want to do business on city streets should be able to live with the city’s requirements and, once the season arrives, still sell plenty of ice cream.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at nickc@journaltribune.com.
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