Judge denies city injunction against St. Pete tire shop over mosquito concerns

The city of St. Petersburg sought an injunction against Thach Tire & Rim, located at 1445 16th St. N, due to concerns about mosquitoes breeding in piled-up tires outside the shop, which are linked to a recent dengue outbreak.

Photos taken during a city codes investigation showed tires stacked outside the shop, and the city filed a complaint after confirmed dengue cases were reported near the location, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Despite the city's efforts to control mosquito breeding sites amid one of the worst dengue outbreaks in a century, a judge ruled that the tire shop is taking steps to address the mosquito problem and denied the city's injunction request.

The ruling means the tire shop can continue operations while working to mitigate mosquito risks in the area, as the city continues its public health response to the outbreak.