“I’m reaching out to alert readers to more DCRA incompetence and uncooperative attitude”

“Dear PoPville,

I’m reaching out to alert readers to more DCRA incompetence and uncooperative attitude.

My business partner and I are trying to start a food truck. We have followed every regulation, requirement, completed all necessary applications, provided all necessary documentation – and we are told that DCRA will not accept our application for a business license because we do not own the food truck.

We are leasing it from an individual who no longer wishes to operate a food truck. The truck meets all DC codes, is in good standing with valid tags and registration, and the owner has provided us with all of the necessary documents that the regulations state we need if we are not the owners of the vehicle.

DCRA is now stating that the regulations are wrong, and mistakenly typed. Upon pressing them to provide the regulation that states we must be on the vehicle registration in order to obtain a business license, we have been completely stonewalled. Repeated attempts to contact them have gone ignored.

My business partner and I have followed the very letter of the law in every step of this process. We are quickly going into serious debt, as we have already put down a deposit on the truck, bought insurance, signed a contract with a depot, and much more. Because we cannot generate any revenue, our business dreams might end before they even begin.

We have now contacted a lawyer to advocate on our behalf, but it should have never come to this. If anyone can advise us on this matter, it would be greatly appreciated.”