The Bloomberg administration is going to oppose a bill that could put buyers of fake luxury produ🥂cts behind bars, The Post has learned.
The bill, first proposed two years ago by Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D-Manhꩲattan), finally got a hearing yesterday.
ꦺInꦡ addition to jail time of up to a year, bargain hunters ready to buy a “Rolex” from a guy in an alley would face a $1,000 fine.
“It’s such a large fine 🔯it would deter people from making nearly any purchases,” said one source, explaining the administration’s opposition.
Images o♚f wide-eyed tourists being hauled off by cops wouldn’t sit well with City Hall, either.
But Chin𝄹 argued that drastic measures are necessary because the counterfeit trade continues to thrive in Chinatown, which she represents, despite repeated raids.
“Wꦛhat we’re trying 🐼to do is cut down on the demand,” she said.
Chin s꧅coffed at the idea𒊎 that some naive buyers might not realize they’re engaging in a criminal transaction.
“If you’re buying something off the stre⛄et, paying cash, doing it in a sneaky way, c’mon,” she said.
Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens) said he has a problem with the jail-time provision, but is ready to impose a less severe penalty.
“I would🔯 absolutely consider making it a violation,” he said, noting that other countries such as France and Italy already impos🍒e large fines.
“You don’t have unknowing buyers any more,” said Vallone, mentioning that transactions often involve shady ch🌊aracters in back alleys. “It’s more like a hostage exch💦ange.”