Judge Rules Operation Padlock Unconstitutional; City Plans Appeal

In a significant judicial decision, a Queens judge has ruled Operation Padlock, New York City’s targeted initiative to shut down illegal smoke shops, unconstitutional. The ruling, first reported by The Gothamist, found that the operation violates store owners’ due process rights. The program, launched in May, aimed to curb the presence of illegal smoke shops across the city.

City Hall expressed its intent to challenge the court’s decision. In a statement shared with News 12, a City Hall spokesperson defended the operation, highlighting its objective to eliminate the risks associated with unregulated smoke shops. “Illegal smoke shops and their dangerous products threaten the health of young New Yorkers and diminish our quality of life,” the statement read. “Through ‘Operation Padlock to Protect,’ we have closed over 1,200 illegal shops, confiscating products valued at over $82 million. These illicit items have endangered our communities for too long, and we remain committed to safeguarding public health and safety.”

As of September, Midtown Times they were reported that Operation Padlock closed 199 stores in the Bronx and 223 in Brooklyn alone. The city’s Law Department has now filed a notice to appeal the ruling, underscoring the administration’s commitment to its enforcement strategy amidst the ongoing legal challenge.