N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 402-a: Facsimile license plates

§ 402-a. Facsimile license plates. 1. No person shall manufacture,

sell, or offer for sale a decorative or facsimile license plate of a

size, shape, color and design which is identical with the size, shape,

color and design of license plates issued by the department.

2. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, the commissioner

may authorize the manufacture and sale of decorative or facsimile

license plates which are identical to those issued by the department for

special events or productions.

3. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, application

may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the

state of New York to a court or justice having jurisdiction by a special

proceeding to issue an injunction and upon notice to the defendant of

not less than five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance of such

violation or to enforce the provisions of this section; and if it shall

appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that the defendant

has, in fact, violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such

court or justice, enjoining and restraining any further violation,

without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or

damaged thereby. Whenever the court shall determine that a violation of

this section has occurred the court may impose a civil penalty of not

more than five hundred dollars for each violation. In connection with

any such proposed application, the attorney general is authorized to

take proof and make a determination of the relevant facts and issue

subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and rules.