399-DD*2 - Construction or installation of playground or playground equipment.

* §  399-dd.  Construction or installation of playground or playground  equipment.  1.  Definitions  relative  to  playground  safety.  For  the  purposes  of  this section, the term "playground" means an improved area  designed, equipped, and set aside for play of six or more children which  is not intended for use as an athletic playing field or athletic  court,  and  shall  include  any  play  equipment,  surfacing,  fencing,  signs,  internal  pathways,  internal  land  forms,  vegetation,   and   related  structures.    2.  The  consumer protection board, in consultation with the office of  parks, recreation and historic preservation, shall promulgate rules  and  regulations  for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of  playgrounds  and   playground   equipment.   Those   regulations   shall  substantially   comply  with  the  guidelines  and  criteria  which  are  contained in the handbook for public playground safety produced  by  the  United  States consumer products safety commission or any successor. The  rules and regulations shall include special provisions  for  playgrounds  appropriate for children within the range of ages in day care settings.    3.  (a)  No  person,  firm,  corporation,  or other legal entity which  constructs, assembles or installs a playground or  playground  equipment  shall  construct,  assemble, or install in this state such playground or  playground equipment unless  such  playground  or  playground  equipment  shall  conform  to  the  requirements  of  those  rules  and regulations  promulgated pursuant to this section.    (b) Playgrounds or playground equipment constructed upon one, two  and  three-family  residential real property are exempt from the requirements  of this section.    4.  Whenever  the  attorney  general  shall  believe   from   evidence  satisfactory to him that any person, firm, corporation or association or  agent or employee thereof has violated any provision of this section, he  may  bring an action in the supreme court of the state of New York for a  judgment enjoining the continuance of such violation  and  for  a  civil  penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation, except  that  the court may impose a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand  dollars if the violation is knowing and willful. If it shall  appear  to  the satisfaction of the court or justice that the defendant has violated  any  provision  of  this  section,  no  proof shall be required that any  person has been injured thereby nor  that  the  defendant  knowingly  or  intentionally violated such provision. In such action preliminary relief  may  be  granted under article sixty-three of the civil practice law and  rules. Before any violation of this section is sought  to  be  enjoined,  the  attorney  general shall be required to give the person against whom  such  proceeding  is  contemplated  notice  by  certified  mail  and  an  opportunity  to  show in writing within five business days after receipt  of notice why proceedings should not be instituted against  him,  unless  the  attorney  general  shall  find,  in  any  case  in  which  he seeks  preliminary relief, that to give such notice and opportunity is  not  in  the public interest.    * NB There are 4 § 399-dd's