Section 392-F. Taximeters

1. Definitions. As used in this section:
    (a) "Person" shall include a person, firm, partnership, association or
  corporation.
    (b)  "Sell"  shall include offer to sell, expose for sale, and possess
  with intent to dispose of or to sell.
    (c) "Taximeter" shall include any device  which,  when  affixed  to  a
  motor vehicle, is so constructed as to operate as a fare indicator and a
  time  and distance register for the purpose of automatically determining
  the charge for which a passenger becomes liable.
    (d) "Remove" shall include deface, alter, conceal and obliterate.
    2. (a) No manufacturer shall offer for sale any taximeter  which  does
  not  have  etched,  stamped  or  permanently  impressed thereon a serial
  number which has been assigned to it by the manufacturer.
    (b) Any manufacturer who sells taximeters within the state shall  keep
  a  record  of  the transaction. The record shall indicate (i) the serial
  number of the taximeter sold, (ii) the name and address of  the  vendee,
  (iii) the date of the sale and (iv) the purchase price.
    3.  A  person  being the owner or lawful custodian of a taximeter, the
  original identification number of which shall have been removed or which
  never bore a serial  number,  may  apply  to  the  county  or  municipal
  authority charged with the obligation of regulating the taxicab industry
  within  its  jurisdiction,  if  any, for permission to make or stamp, or
  cause to be made or stamped  on  such  taximeter  a  serial  number.  If
  satisfied  that the person making application for such permission is the
  true owner of the taximeter and that its  original  number  was  not  so
  removed at the instigation of the person making such application, or, if
  done by such person, was not done for an unlawful purpose, the county or
  municipal  authority  shall issue to the applicant written permission to
  stamp on the taximeter a special identification number designated by it.
    4. Any person who wholly or in part removes or who shall cause to  be,
  wholly  or  in part, removed from or upon a taximeter the serial number;
  or who sells or causes to be sold a taximeter from or upon which to  his
  or  its knowledge, or to the knowledge of his or its agents, servants or
  employees there has been in whole or in part, removed or  concealed  the
  serial  number,  or  who sells or causes to be sold a taximeter from the
  inspection of which such knowledge could have been  obtained,  shall  be
  guilty of a misdemeanor.
    5.  The  sale  of a taximeter from which there has been in whole or in
  part removed or concealed a mark of origin shall be presumptive evidence
  of the violation of this section.