It would seem that NY officials are upset that citizens are avoiding paying their cigarette taxes. Indian reservations and online retailers have seen a boom in cigarette sales, while retail merchants in NY have seen a 30% decline. Lawmakers are hoping to close legal loopholes with more legislation.

Lawmakers are either naive or stupid if they fail to see that legislation isn't the answer. As long as people can buy smokes that cost $140 in NYC from outside sources at a cost of $32, they are going to do it, legal or not. Passing laws against 'bootlegged' cigarettes is only going to criminalize people that would ordinarily be honest and law abiding, and will ultimately increase crime. It could also serve to alienate voters come election day.

Perhaps one day we'll see a repeat of the Boston Tea Party, with New Yorkers throwing cigarettes into the East River, rather than dead bodies and medical waste.