Three vape shops in Weslaco will no longer be allowed to stay open around the clock after city leaders moved to cut off their overnight hours, closing a loophole that let at least two locations run 24/7 and a third stay open until 2 a.m. Under the new rules, shops may operate from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, ending overnight vape shop operations entirely.
Weslaco city leaders approved the measure addressing vape-shop hours alongside new state laws targeting illegal vaping products, according to KRGV, which reported the action took place Tuesday. Shops that violate the new hours could face a $2,000 fine, and two or more additional violations within a year can lead to license suspension or permit revocation, per the same report.
At the Vape City location in the 1500 block of Business 83, police received a call about two armed male suspects around 5 a.m., according to a separate KRGV report. That confrontation escalated into an officer-involved shooting, and the officer who fired their weapon was placed on administrative leave while the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office led the investigation, per the outlet.
Robbery Suspect Now Facing Multiple Charges
One of the two suspects identified in that attempted robbery, 25-year-old Travis Clayton Wildeman, was charged with aggravated robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and escaping while in custody, krgv.com reported.
How This Fits a Broader Push Across Texas Cities
Weslaco is not alone in scrutinizing how vape shops operate. In Cleveland, Texas, city council members took their own first formal step toward regulating vape and tobacco retailers in July, directing staff to draft zoning changes and examine a possible temporary moratorium on new vape-shop permits, according to bluebonnetnews.com. That city had nine dedicated vape or tobacco retailers at the time, not counting convenience stores or grocery stores that also sell tobacco products, the outlet reported, and officials there floated hour limits, outdoor-display restrictions and minimum separation requirements between shops. Unlike Weslaco's reported vote, Cleveland's council did not approve an ordinance at that meeting and instead sought legal guidance before moving forward, per bluebonnetnews.com.
The push to rein in illicit vape products also connects to recent changes in state law, including new state laws targeting illegal vaping products.
