It's lights out in Times Square for street peddlers.
A police crackdown on the aggressive hustlers, combined with last month's fatal shooting of a CD peddler, has cleared Times Square of aggravating unlicensed salesmen.
"Cops don't let nobody sell out here no more," said Robert McKohan as he handed out advertising fliers outside the Marriot Marquis hotel.
Drawn to Times Square by scores of tourists and dreams of being discovered by executives at the nearby MTV offices, the hawkers all-but-strongarm their victims into handing over $5 or $10 for their homemade CDs and DVDs.
And they're more than just a nuisance.
One peddler who fancied himself a hip-hop star was carrying a MAC-10 and threatening cops when he was shot and killed by an NYPD sergeant on Dec. 11.
"Times Square got empty after that shooting," McKohan said.
He said cops have been demanding to see sellers' tax stamps - and rousting anyone who doesn't have one.
"I am glad the hustlers are gone. I tell my grandchildren to be careful of these people, " said Rosalee Rosenthal, a Brooklyn grandmother who often visits Times Square to see a Broadway show.
Capt. Edward Winski of the Midtown South precinct says officers used to charge illegal salesmen with disorderly conduct, or for not having a New York state tax stamp.
Both crimes usually led to a summons or a small fine.
Since the shooting, cops have arrested 21 hustlers under a tougher charge - aggressive solicitation - that can lead to up to a year of jail time.
The news of a police crackdown on CD sellers made Pennsylvania mom Bonnie Frazer sigh with relief.
"I like to see that they are taking care of the riff-raff," said Frazer, shopping with her daughter Trisha, 17, inside American Eagle Outfitters on Broadway. "There is too much of it out there."
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