New York Daily News

Think inside the box

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Two summers ago, the Daily News, humm, exposed the explosion of costumed and naked hustlers, hawkers, hucksters and hussies prowling Times Square seeking to separate tourists from their cash. Mayor de Blasio and the City Council vowed to fix the mess, and they largely did, imposing common sense and fair rules limiting such commercial transactio­ns to a series of painted rectangles spread across the Times Square plazas.

Recent visits to Times Square confirm that despite occasional misbehavio­r, most people and Elmos are abiding by the rules. Order — if you can ever call the controlled chaos of the Crossroads of the World that — is restored.

The swamp is somewhat drained, with the number of pose-with-me-for-10-bucks types of all kinds having fallen noticeably. One warm evening last week, we counted only three naked ladies, one-tenth the number from before the reforms. And by and large, they’re staying where they’re supposed to be.

Just one small problem. Too many of the tipcadgers are making a habit of stepping out of their designated zones to solicit business, then luring their marks back to the box for photos and payment. That is against the law.

Anyone, costumed, naked or clothed, is free to walk about Times Square. But the solicitati­on of customers for pictures, or to sell tour bus tickets, is an integral part of the regulated activity and must occur in the designated area. Just ask Councilman Dan Garodnick, who represents Times Square and wrote the law.

The NYPD, which has deployed special units to Times Square, should gently but firmly remind the ladies and gentlemen and Muppets of their legal obligation to keep the come-ons in the box.

Now, everyone have a good time. It’s summer, after all, and the living is easy.

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