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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 245.02 — Promoting the exposure of a person

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 245: Offenses Against Public Sensibilities, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 245.02

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 245.02Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
245.02 Promoting the exposure of a person. A person is guilty of promoting the exposure of a person when he knowingly conducts, maintains, owns, manages, operates or furnishes any public premise or place where a person in a public place appears in such a manner that the private or intimate parts of his body are unclothed or exposed. For purposes of this section, the private or intimate parts of a female person shall include that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola. This section shall not apply to the breastfeeding of infants or to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment. Promoting the exposure of a person is a violation. Nothing in this section shall prevent the adoption by a city, town or village of a local law prohibiting the exposure of a person substantially as herein defined in a public place, at any time, whether or not such person is entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is promoting the exposure of a person a crime in New York?

Promoting the exposure of a person is a violation in New York, and a violation is not a crime under New York Penal Law § 10.00(6) — a conviction is a noncriminal disposition, not a criminal conviction. Promoting the exposure of a person is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 245.02.

Which New York statute covers promoting the exposure of a person?

Promoting the exposure of a person is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 245.02 (Promoting the exposure of a person).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.