A state judge on Friday granted a short-term victory to opponents of New York’s pending ban on single-use plastic bags, signing an order to delay enforcement until at least April 1 while a lawsuit continues.
The state statute imposing the ban technically takes effect Sunday, although enforcement of the regulations and penalties wasn’t expected to begin until March 14.
But a coalition of bodega owners, packaging companies and others has been seeking a temporary injunction and restraining order to block the regulations altogether. The lead plaintiff is Poly-Pak Industries, a Melville company that says the state ban will put it out of business.
Justice L. Michael Mackey of State Supreme Court, Albany County, didn’t rule on the injunction request Friday but scheduled the parties to answer claims in the lawsuit by March 24.
Given the new schedule for the case, Mackey said the Cuomo administration has agreed to suspend enforcement of the statute till April 1.
Notably, the Friday agreement and order doesn’t affect a five-cent fee on paper bags that cities and counties have the option of applying. In fact, some already have begun imposing the fees, business coalition said.
Nice to see not everyone takes these crazy, socialist, nanny state laws without speaking up. We must speak up before we lose all our freedoms!
כן יאבדו
Help prevent pollution.
VEHICLE BAN: No cars,vans,buses,trucks allowed!
ONLY BACKPACKING PERMITTED!!!
What about plastic bottles and packaged goods. Only the little plastic bag is the criminal. Plastic bags should demand minority rights. Crazy democRATs and femocRATs destroying life.