To: Christine C. Quinn, New York City Council Speaker, Peter F. Vallone Jr., Chair, Committee on Public Safety, Margaret S. Chin, Council Member, District-1, lower Manhattan, and Name, Title or Position (optional)
Make it Illegal to Buy Counterfeit: Pass Trademark Counterfeit Legislation
We urge you to hold a public hearing on legislation introduced by Council Member Margaret Chin to make it illegal to buy counterfeit trademark goods in New York City (Introduction 544).
The ease with which counterfeit goods are sold has negatively impacted the quality of life in neighborhoods across lower Manhattan - especially Chinatown, SoHo, and Tribeca.
Counterfeit vendors clog our sidewalks and streets; intimidate and harass local residents; destroy private property; and create a negative image of our neighborhood.
Pass Introduction 544 and make it illegal to purchase counterfeit trademark goods in New York City.
The ease with which counterfeit goods are sold has negatively impacted the quality of life in neighborhoods across lower Manhattan - especially Chinatown, SoHo, and Tribeca.
Counterfeit vendors clog our sidewalks and streets; intimidate and harass local residents; destroy private property; and create a negative image of our neighborhood.
Pass Introduction 544 and make it illegal to purchase counterfeit trademark goods in New York City.
Why is this important?
In April 2011, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin introduced legislation to criminalize the purchase of counterfeit trademark goods.
This bill will make it a class A misdemeanor to purchase counterfeit goods, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to a year in jail for repeat offenders.
For years, the neighborhoods of lower Manhattan - especially Chinatown, SoHo, and Tribeca - have been inundated by vendors selling illegal trademark counterfeit goods.
This trade has greatly impacted the quality of life in our community. Counterfeit vendors clog our sidewalks and streets; intimidate and harass local residents; destroy private property; and create a negative image of our neighorhood.
This legislation would give the NYPD the power to issue a summons to individuals who are caught buying goods which they should know are counterfeit based on the cost or quality of the good, or the conditions and location of the seller or sale.
While it is currently illegal to sell counterfeit trademark goods in New York City, it is not illegal to purchase them. Our laws are incomplete as long as they focus on the supply, but not the demand.
The illegal counterfeit good trade costs New York City an estimated $1 billion in tax revenue each year. At a time when our city's services are being slashed, it is irresponsible for our city to forgo such much-needed revenue.
This bill will make it a class A misdemeanor to purchase counterfeit goods, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to a year in jail for repeat offenders.
For years, the neighborhoods of lower Manhattan - especially Chinatown, SoHo, and Tribeca - have been inundated by vendors selling illegal trademark counterfeit goods.
This trade has greatly impacted the quality of life in our community. Counterfeit vendors clog our sidewalks and streets; intimidate and harass local residents; destroy private property; and create a negative image of our neighorhood.
This legislation would give the NYPD the power to issue a summons to individuals who are caught buying goods which they should know are counterfeit based on the cost or quality of the good, or the conditions and location of the seller or sale.
While it is currently illegal to sell counterfeit trademark goods in New York City, it is not illegal to purchase them. Our laws are incomplete as long as they focus on the supply, but not the demand.
The illegal counterfeit good trade costs New York City an estimated $1 billion in tax revenue each year. At a time when our city's services are being slashed, it is irresponsible for our city to forgo such much-needed revenue.