N.Y. Public Officers Law § 67: Fees of public officers

§ 67. Fees of public officers. 1. Each public officer upon whom a duty

is expressly imposed by law, must execute the same without fee or

reward, except where a fee or other compensation therefor is expressly

allowed by law.

2. An officer or other person, to whom a fee or other compensation is

allowed by law, for any service, shall not charge or receive a greater

fee or reward, for that service, than is so allowed.

3. An officer, or other person, shall not demand or receive any fee or

compensation, allowed to him by law for any service, unless the service

was actually rendered by him; except that an officer may demand in

advance his fee, where he is, by law, expressly directed or permitted to

require payment thereof, before rendering the service.

4. Money received by a public officer, or which shall come into his

possession or custody, in the performance of his official duties or in

connection therewith or incidental thereto, shall be held by him in

trust for the person or persons entitled thereto or for the purposes

provided by law and all interest or increments which shall accrue or

attach to such money while in his possession or custody shall be added

to, and become a part of, the money so held and no part of such interest

or increments shall be retained by such officer to his personal use or

benefit, except legal fees allowed by law for receiving and disbursing

the same, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law.

An officer or other person, who violates either of the provisions

contained in this section, is liable, in addition to the punishment

prescribed by law for the criminal offense, to an action in behalf of

the person aggrieved, in which the plaintiff is entitled to treble

damages.