WASHINGTON DC – A group of food trucks have taken control of a set of highly desirable public metered parking spaces on a busy southwest Washington, D.C., street, causing conflict with neighboring businesses and raising questions about the effectiveness of D.C. parking laws.

A News4 I-Team investigation uncovered the operation and captured video of the food truck workers maneuvering vehicles to successfully squat on at least six public parking spaces along E Street SW outside the headquarters of NASA and several other smaller federal agencies. The stretch of road is not part of D.C.’s 10 officially designated food truck lottery zones, which were created five years ago to contain the spread of food trucks and provide lucrative curb sides to the popular mobile eateries.

“They’re basically playing a shell game,” said D.C. Council member Charles Allen, who represents southwest D.C.

Allen said businesses along E Street SW have issued complaints to his office about the maneuvering of the food trucks and the loss of the metered parking spaces.

Find the entire article with video at nbcwashington.com [here]