N.Y. Railroad Law § 63: Persons employed as drivers, conductors, motormen or gripmen

§ 63. Persons employed as drivers, conductors, motormen or gripmen.

Any railroad corporation may employ any inhabitant of the state, of the

age of twenty-one years, not addicted to the use of intoxicating

liquors, as a car driver, conductor, motorman or gripman, or in any

other capacity, if fit and competent therefor. All applicants for

positions as motormen or gripmen on any street surface railroad in this

state shall be subjected to a thorough examination by the officers of

the corporation as to their habits, physical ability and intelligence.

If this examination is satisfactory, the applicant shall be placed in

the shop or power house where he can be made familiar with the power and

machinery he is about to control. He shall then be placed on a car with

an instructor, and when the latter is satisfied as to the applicant's

capability for the position of motorman or gripman, he shall so certify

to the officers of the company, and, if appointed, the applicant shall

first serve on the lines of least travel. Any violation of the

provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor.