Section 143. False identification documents


Latest version.
  • 1. As used in this section,
      "false identification document" means any document, including a personal
      identification card, which is of a type intended  or  commonly  used  or
      accepted  for  the purpose of identification of individuals and which is
      not issued by or under the lawful authority of the  named  or  indicated
      issuer.  "False  identification  document" shall also include a personal
      identification document intended or commonly used or  accepted  for  the
      purpose of identification which resembles or is intended to resemble one
      issued  by  the named or indicated issuer even though that issuer may be
      fictitious.
        2. No person, firm or corporation shall produce, advertise, offer  for
      sale,  sell,  distribute  or  otherwise transfer in this state any false
      personal identification document unless such  document  bears  the  word
      "NOVELTY" diagonally printed clearly and indelibly on both the front and
      back  of  such document in capital letters in not less than twelve point
      type.
        3. Whenever there shall be a violation of this section, an application
      may be made by the attorney general in the name of  the  people  of  the
      state  of  New  York or by the corporation counsel for any city or by an
      attorney properly designated by the  governing  body  to  represent  any
      other  political  subdivision, to a court or justice having jurisdiction
      by a special proceeding to issue an injunction, and upon notice  to  the
      respondent  of  not  less  than  five  days,  to enjoin and restrain the
      continuance  of  such  violations;  and  if  it  shall  appear  to   the
      satisfaction  of  the court or justice that the respondent 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, corporation counsel  or
      other properly designated attorney, as the case may be, is authorized to
      take  proof  and make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue
      subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and rules. Each sale
      of a false identification  document  shall  constitute  a  separate  and
      distinct violation.