N.Y. Nav. Law § 42-a

§ 42-a. Tow-chains. Any person, for a fee, who operates a boat or\nvessel, and who pilots, offers to pilot, tows or offers to tow any other\nboat or vessel, must remove completely from the water any rope or chain\nor other tool or device used to connect the boats or vessels for the\npurposes of towing, while such rope or chain or other tool or device is\nnot being used to tow another boat or vessel. Violation of this section\nis a violation, punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty\ndollars and not more than one thousand dollars.\n