New York Consolidated Laws, Navigation Law - NAV § 42-a. Tow-chains

Any person, for a fee, who operates a boat or vessel, and who pilots, offers to pilot, tows or offers to tow any other boat or vessel, must remove completely from the water any rope or chain or other tool or device used to connect the boats or vessels for the purposes of towing, while such rope or chain or other tool or device is not being used to tow another boat or vessel. Violation of this section is a violation, punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than one thousand dollars.