NYC Skyride Attraction's Street Hawkers Can Stay The owners of a virtual helicopter ride at the Empire State Building have won a court bid to keep their ticket hawkers in business on nearby streets. Thursday's appellate court ruling reverses a lower court decision that went against NY Skyride's owners. The owners sued New York City after six hawkers were arrested and 14 were ticketed on charges of unlicensed vending last spring. Skyride says officials misapplied a requirement for licenses to sell "goods or services" on the street. The waiting list for the licenses is closed. A state Supreme Court Appellate Division panel says it doesn't make sense to see the ride as a good or service and the ticket sellers don't need licenses. Skyride lawyer Randy Mastro says the decision is "a life-saver" for the attraction. City lawyers say they're disappointed in the ruling.