City rules apply to costumed characters only in Times Square: NYPD
(New York Post Local News)

Costumed creeps like The Grinch and Cookie Monster can strongarm tourists for tips in Rockefeller Center because the city rules that regulate them only apply in Times Square. “The rules governing costumed characters around Times Square are specific to that area and do not apply to the area in and around Rockefeller Center,” NYPD spokeswoman...