§ 197. Protection of employees in the counties of Kings and Queens. Every corporation operating a street surface railroad in the counties of Kings or Queens, shall cause the front and rear platforms of every passenger car propelled by electricity, cable or compressed air, operated on any division of such railroad during the months of December, January, February and March, except cars attached to the rear of other cars, to be inclosed from the fronts of the platforms to the fronts of the hoods so as to afford protection to any person stationed by such corporation on such platforms to perform duties connected with the operation of such cars. Every corporation or person using and operating a car in violation of this section shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five dollars per day for each car used and operated, to be collected in an action brought by the transit commission and to be paid to the treasurer of the city of New York, or in a suit by the district attorney of the counties of Kings or Queens to be paid into the treasury of the city of New York.