Section 196. Protection to employees in the counties of Albany and Rensselaer

Every corporation operating a street  surface  railroad  in
  the  counties  of  Albany  and Rensselaer shall cause the front and rear
  platforms of every car propelled by  electricity,  cable  or  compressed
  air,  during the months of December, January, February and March, except
  cars attached to the rear of other cars, to be inclosed from  the  front
  and  at  least  one  side  of  the platform to the hood, so as to afford
  protection to any person stationed by such corporation on such platforms
  to perform duties  in  connection  with  the  operation  of  such  cars.
  Platforms  on  cars  on such street surface railroads used more than one
  mile outside the limits of a city  shall  be  completely  inclosed  from
  platform  to  hood.  Every  corporation  using  and  operating  a car in
  violation of this section shall be liable to a  penalty  of  twenty-five
  dollars  per  day  for each car so used and operated, to be collected by
  the people to  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  county  in  which  such
  corporation  has  its  principal  office,  in  an  action brought by the
  commission or commissioner having jurisdiction or the district  attorney
  of  such county. The supreme court may, on the application of a citizen,
  direct the district attorney to bring such action.