§ 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.