St. Petersburg hot dog vendor wins fight to resume late-night business

ST. PETERSBURG

Joy McGhee fought the law and the law did not win.

The longtime downtown pushcart vendor was fined $200 in July for selling hot dogs to late-night bargoers. An obscure ordinance forbade such sales after 9 p.m.

McGhee was told the case would be dismissed if she could get the ordinance changed. That seemed reasonable to her.

Then McGhee learned the speed at which the law operates. It took 82 days for the City Council to finally, and unanimously, amend the ordinance to extend hours for outdoor vendors to 1 a.m.

Since it took so long to change the ordinance, she had to pay the fine. Still, she's pleased with the outcome.

"If I go down in the history of St. Pete as being the one who helped in getting this ordinance changed, I'll die a happy woman," she said.

McGhee can normally be found from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Sixth Street. But she started selling hot dogs at night in June outside Durty Nelly's a few blocks west on Central. The bar owner noted few late-night fast-food choices in the area and wanted someone to help fill his patrons' bellies after a long night of partying.

The lines were long, but police were not amused.

After her ticket, McGhee returned to daylight hot dog peddling and took up her cause with the City Council. She solicited donations for a "legal fund" and raised about $100. Pamella Settlegoode, a candidate for City Council, donated the rest.

McGhee went to court in late August. As she waited, McGhee said, the judge issued $100 fines for public urination, prostitution and public drinking.

When he called her case the judge said something about her being charged with selling a hot dog after 9 p.m. The courtroom chuckled. She paid her $200 fine and left.

"I could've peed in public, or I could've prostituted myself and it would've been cheaper," she said. "There is some humor in all of this."

If she had her way, McGhee would sell her hot dogs until 2 a.m. when the bars close, but she'll take what she can get.

The ordinance, which the City Council approved last week, will cover any of the 20 vendors like McGhee who are licensed to have pushcarts in city rights of way.

The ordinance takes effect Thursday, but McGhee said she won't be outside Durty Nelly's that night. It's generally a slow night, she said, and she wants to return with a bang. So expect to see McGhee, her cart and a long line of hungry customers Friday night.

She also has a message for "the little guys" in St. Petersburg:

"I am living proof that you can fight city hall and you can win."

Andy Boyle can be reached at aboyle@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8087.