TRAFFIC ALERT

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Due to an issue over the collection of taxes on cigarettes in NY state, the Indian tribe that owns the land that I-90, US-20 and SR-5 pass through is in an defensive mode and is threatening the closing of the mentioned roads.

This is in the Western,NY area between Erie,PA and Buffalo, NY, specifically the Silver Creek NY area where there is a large Indian Reservation.

Plan your trips accordingly and check road conditions often if you attempt to pass through this way.

This has happened in years past and is not something you want to be caught in.


JIM :rolleyes:

[Jon Wehrenberg]

It also applies to the Southern Tier Expressway, formerly route 17 and now Interstate 86 in the Salamanca area. This is all Seneca Nation Indian reservation land. The last time they did this they stopped traffic by burning huge piles of tires in the roads.

[BoaterAl]

Whats the issue with the cig tax collection ? Living west of the Mississippi missed that topic.

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Whats the issue with the cig tax collection ? Living west of the Mississippi missed that topic.

NY recently increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes. A pack is now somewhere between ($9.00 & $11.00) The Indians don't want to collect the tax but rather take advantage of the increased traffic to increase sales volume. They do the same with fuel.
The Governor threatened action on collection and they are rebelling. The Indians have a tribal nation and live on and control a reservation under a treaty with the US government. They say they have a right to do what they are doing according to the treaty and if the government breaks the treaty then they can close their land through which the roads pass, thereby closing the roads.

JIM

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_969e1dbc-b4b5-11df-ac6b-001cc4c03286.html

JIM