2006 New York Code - Interference With Official Traffic-control Devices, Railroad Signs Or Signals And Other Highway Appurtenances.

 
    § 1115. Interference  with  official traffic-control devices, railroad
  signs or signals and other highway appurtenances. (a)  No  person  shall
  without  lawful  authority  attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure,
  knock down, cover, remove, or  otherwise  interfere  with  any  official
  traffic-control   device   or  any  railroad  sign  or  signal,  or  any
  inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof; any
  bridge or similar structure; any  monument,  lamppost,  telephone  pole,
  fence,  walk,  curb,  tree,  rock cut or other appurtenance on a highway
  right of way.
    (b) For the purposes of this section, to 'deface' shall  include,  but
  not  be limited to, to damage, destroy, disfigure, erase, ruin, distort,
  spoil or otherwise change the external appearance of an  object  by  the
  use of chalk, crayon, paint, stain, ink or other similar material.