In an attempt to curb crime in one of downtown’s busiest nighttime spots, the Denver Police Department has banned food trucks in the lower downtown area on weekend nights.

The ban goes into effect on Sept. 5. and prohibits food trucks from operating in LoDo from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. 

Police handed out notices to food truck drivers during Friday night operations.

Food trucks typically target the area to feed customers going in and out of bars and nightclubs, according to police. By banning food trucks, police say it could encourage people to leave the LoDo area soon after the bars and nightclubs shut down.

“DPD has a large number of officers in the LoDo area on weekend nights, and finds violent incidents often stem from areas in which crowds congregate after leaving nightclubs and entertainment establishments,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

Specifically, they added, police have witnessed people congregate around food trucks, and that restricting it would reduce the number of “bump into” fights, which could escalate into gun violence, the police spokesperson said.

In an interview with The Denver Gazette’s news partner, 9News, one food truck operator said police unexpectedly handed out notices in the middle of the night.

Alex Salomon said he has parked his truck in the same spot for nearly two years and operates from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on weekends.

“We’re a truck, we’re mobile,” he said. “So it’s very important that the consistency of our time, our schedule and our location, it’s always the same. Moving half a block away would essentially be me restarting a whole new business.”

He added, “This is cutting me off completely.”

DPD estimates that the new restrictions will affect approximately six to 10 food trucks.

Solomon said it affects more than that.

“In this block alone, you’re affecting hundreds of people,” he said, estimating over 30 food trucks in the restricted zone.

But police say they are confident that the strategy will work.

In July, Denver police implemented designated rideshare pickup zones in LoDo, “with those same goals in mind,” the police spokesperson said.

Another part of the food truck ban plan, police said, is to create two to three designated zones for the food truck operators to be able to park together to operate in that vicinity, which will be determined next week.

“DPD wants the food truck operators to be successful and for the area to be as safe as possible,” the police spokesperson said. 

Denver Gazette news partner 9News contributed to this report.