396-J - Sale or possession of master or manipulative keys for motor vehicles.

§  396-j.  Sale or possession of master or manipulative keys for motor  vehicles.    1.  Any  person,  firm,   copartnership,   corporation   or  association,  or any agent or employee thereof who (a) 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,  or  (b) knowingly possesses any key cutter, manufacturing device or tool  which is capable of producing, duplicating or altering any key  designed  to open or capable of opening the door or trunk of any motor vehicle, or  of  starting  the engine thereof, under circumstances evincing an intent  to use or knowledge that some person intends to use the same to  make  a  key  to  unlawfully enter or operate any motor vehicle, or (c) knowingly  possesses any duplicate key or key blank or device designed to  open  or  capable  of opening or capable of being readily adapted to open the door  or trunk of any motor vehicle, or of starting the engine thereof,  under  circumstances  evincing  an  intent to use or knowledge that some person  intends to use the  same  to  unlawfully  enter  or  operate  any  motor  vehicle, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.    2.  This  section  shall  not  apply  to a dealer of new or used motor  vehicles, a car rental agent, or  a  locksmith  or  their  agents  while  acting  within the scope of their employment; or a private investigator,  or his employees, who is licensed and bonded by the state  of  New  York  and who in the usual course of business repossesses motor vehicles; or a  state  or  municipal  law enforcement officer acting within the scope of  his official duties.    3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this  section,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  an  automobile club duly organized under the  Membership Corporations Law, for the purpose of  providing  services  to  its members, its duly authorized employees or agents, to possess and use  a  device  other  than  a  master or manipulative key for the purpose of  opening a door of a locked motor vehicle when requested to do  so  by  a  member  of  said  automobile  club  who  is the owner or the operator in  lawful possession of said motor vehicle.