N.Y. RRD Law § 63

§ 63. Persons employed as drivers, conductors, motormen or gripmen.\nAny railroad corporation may employ any inhabitant of the state, of the\nage of twenty-one years, not addicted to the use of intoxicating\nliquors, as a car driver, conductor, motorman or gripman, or in any\nother capacity, if fit and competent therefor. All applicants for\npositions as motormen or gripmen on any street surface railroad in this\nstate shall be subjected to a thorough examination by the officers of\nthe corporation as to their habits, physical ability and intelligence.\nIf this examination is satisfactory, the applicant shall be placed in\nthe shop or power house where he can be made familiar with the power and\nmachinery he is about to control. He shall then be placed on a car with\nan instructor, and when the latter is satisfied as to the applicant's\ncapability for the position of motorman or gripman, he shall so certify\nto the officers of the company, and, if appointed, the applicant shall\nfirst serve on the lines of least travel. Any violation of the\nprovisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor.\n