NYCL AGO 95-57.

• Case Date: December 11, 1995
• Court: New York

New York Attorney General Opinions 1995. AGO 95-57. December 11, 1995Informal Opinion No. 95-57Richard J. Guertin, Esq. Corporation Counsel No. 95-57 Office of Corporation Counsel City of Middletown Middletown, New York 10940GENERAL BUSINESS LAW § 396-j; L 1968 CH 852.An automobile supplies and parts store may not make a car door opener available to the general public. Violations should be prosecuted by the district attorney.Dear Mr. Guertin: Your assistant corporation counsel has inquired whether an automobile supplies and parts store violates section 396-j of the General Business Law if it sells a car door opener commonly known as a "slimjim" to the general public. Section 396-j of the General Business Law makes it a class A misdemeanor for any person or corporation to sell any device designed to open or capable of opening the door or trunk of a motor vehicle. Section 396-j states, in pertinent part:

1. Any person, firm, copartnership, corporation or association, or any agent or employee thereof who sells, offers for sale or advertises for sale or knowingly possesses any master or manipulative key or device designed to open or capable of opening the door or trunk of any motor vehicle, or of starting the engine thereof, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

General...