New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 245.03 — Public lewdness in the first degree
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 § 245.03
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.
245.03 Public lewdness in the first degree.
A person is guilty of public lewdness in the first degree when:
1. being nineteen years of age or older and intending to be observed
by a person less than sixteen years of age in a place described in
subdivision (a) or (b) of section 245.00 of this article, he or she
intentionally exposes the private or intimate parts of his or her body
in a lewd manner for the purpose of alarming or seriously annoying such
person, and he or she is thereby observed by such person in such place;
or
2. he or she commits the crime of public lewdness, as defined in
section 245.00 of this article, and within the preceding year has been
convicted of an offense defined in such section 245.00 or this section.
Public lewdness in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of misdemeanor is public lewdness in the first degree in New York?
Public lewdness in the first degree is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 245.03.
Which New York statute covers public lewdness in the first degree?
Public lewdness in the first degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 245.03 (Public lewdness in the first degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.