N.Y. General Business Law Section 80
License certificates, pocket cards or badges

Upon the issuing of a license as hereinbefore provided the department of state shall issue to each person, partner, member of a limited liability company or officer of a corporation making and filing a statement required by § 72 (Application for licenses)section seventy-two of this article a pocket card of such size and design as the department of state may prescribe, which card shall contain a photograph of the licensee, the name and business address of the licensee and the imprint or impress of the seal of the department of state which pocket card shall be evidence of due authorization pursuant to the terms of this article. All persons to whom such license certificates or pocket cards shall have been issued shall be responsible for the safe keeping of the same, and shall not lend, enable, let or allow any other person to have, hold, use or display such certificate or pocket card; and any person so parting with such a license certificate or pocket card or displaying the same without authority, or who shall display any license certificate or pocket card purporting to authorize the holder thereof to act as a private investigator, bail enforcement agent or watch, guard or patrol agency, unless the same shall have been duly issued pursuant to the provisions of this article, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall be sufficient cause for revocation of such license, and all such certificates or pocket cards shall be returned to the department of state within seventy-two hours after the holder thereof has received notice in writing of the expiration or revocation of such license. It shall be unlawful for a holder of a license or anyone else to distribute, possess, use or display any license certificate, pocket card, badge, shield or any other indicia of a license status pursuant to this article except as set forth in this article. Any person who is a licensee hereunder or an officer or authorized employee of any other person, firm, limited liability company or corporation, whether or not licensed hereunder, while performing the services of a watchman, guard or private patrolman, may wear on his outer clothing a rectangular metal or woven insignia approved by the department of state, which insignia shall not be larger than three inches high nor four inches wide with an inscription thereon containing the word “watchman”, “guard”, “patrol” or “special service” and the name of such licensee or employer. It shall be unlawful for any employer, whether or not licensed hereunder, to wear or distribute to his, their or its employees any employment identification except as authorized in this article and approved by the secretary of state. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source: Section 80 — License certificates, pocket cards or badges, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/GBS/80 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Apr. 5, 2025).

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Accessed:
Apr. 5, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 80’s source at nysenate​.gov

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