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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 245.05 — Offensive exhibition

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 § 245.05

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 § 245.05Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
245.05 Offensive exhibition. A person is guilty of offensive exhibition when he knowingly produces, operates, manages or furnishes premises for, or in any way promotes or participates in, an exhibition in the nature of public entertainment or amusement in which: 1. A person competes continuously without respite for a period of more than eight consecutive hours in a dance contest, bicycle race or other contest involving physical endurance; or 2. A person is held up to ridicule or contempt by voluntarily submitting to indignities such as the throwing of balls or other articles at his head or body; or 3. A firearm is discharged or a knife, arrow or other sharp or dangerous instrument is thrown or propelled at or toward a person. Offensive exhibition is a violation.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is offensive exhibition a crime in New York?

Offensive exhibition 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. Offensive exhibition is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 245.05.

Which New York statute covers offensive exhibition?

Offensive exhibition is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 245.05 (Offensive exhibition).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.