§ 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.