The city's seemingly futile crackdown on counterfeit designer merchandise could get some new teeth if City Councilwoman Margaret Chin has her way. Chin, whose district includes Chinatown, will introduce legislation this week that would make it illegal to buy knockoffs like bogus Louis Vuitton bags. Guilty buyers could face a year in jail or a $1000 fine if caught, and Chin says the heavy penalty is necessary if the city's going to staunch the flow of ripoff merchandise. But how are buyers supposed to know the purse they're buying from the street peddler is fake, and not just the deal of a lifetime?! more ›

According to police, a driver who ran a red light was busted for trademark counterfeiting after a Port Authority police officer did a little more inspection. The NY Post reports that Lin Librao and his wife were head to the Lincoln Tunnel when they were stopped at West 40th Street: "The traffic stop quickly turned into a nightmare for the Libraos as Reyes peeked into the back of their Chevy Suburban and noticed a stash that included 10,000 pieces of Tiffany-labeled jewelry, 3,000 purses with designer tags, and 2,000 wallets." It's estimated the goods were worth millions. Librao, who said he and his wife were headed to a flea market (hey, why not bring Canal Street to Jersey?) was charged with trademark infringement and possession of counterfeit goods. more ›

The police raided a Flushing warehouse and found $4.5 million worth of counterfeit goods. NY1 reported there were 50,000 pairs of sneakers, about 40,000 fake purses, and thousands of articles of clothing. more ›