N.Y. High. Law § 323
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons whatsoever in this state to hitch any horse or other animal to or leave the same standing near enough to injure any fruit or forest tree growing within the bounds of the public highway, or used as a shade or ornamental tree around any school house, church or public building, or to cut down or mutilate in any way any such ornamental or shade tree; but the right of property owners along the highway to cultivate, train and use such shade trees shall not be impaired or abridged hereby. Any person or persons guilty of violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five dollars, nor more than twenty-five dollars for each such offense, and in case of failure to pay any fine imposed, may be committed to jail, not exceeding one day for each dollar of such fine. Courts of special sessions having jurisdiction to try misdemeanors, as provided by section fifty-six of the code of criminal procedure, shall have exclusive jurisdiction to try offenders in all cases occurring in the same manner as in other cases, where they now have jurisdiction, and subject to the same power of removal, and to render and enforce judgments, to the extent herein provided. All fines collected under the provisions of this act shall be paid when the offense is committed in a town outside of incorporated villages, to the supervisor of the town, to be used as the town board and town superintendent may direct. When the offense is committed in any village of the county, which by law is constituted a separate road district, the fine shall be paid to the treasurer of said village, to be used as the board of trustees may direct.
N.Y. High. Law § 323