Plain language law

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Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against morality and decency, sexual crimes, and crimes against public welfare - Crimes against morality and decency

125: Indecent act in public place

You could also call this:

“It's against the law to do rude things in places where other people can see you.”

If you do an indecent act in a public place or where people can see you from a public place, you could go to jail for up to 2 years. This law applies to places where the public can go or are allowed to go.

You can defend yourself against this charge if you can show that you had good reasons to think no one would see you.

When this law talks about a ‘place’, it doesn’t just mean outdoor areas. It also includes train carriages, ships, aircraft, and vehicles that people pay to travel in.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329045.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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124A: Indecent communication with young person under 16, or

“It's against the law for adults to share rude or naughty things with kids under 16.”

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126: Indecent act with intent to insult or offend, or

“It's against the law to do rude things to upset or make someone feel bad.”

Part 7 Crimes against morality and decency, sexual crimes, and crimes against public welfare
Crimes against morality and decency

125Indecent act in public place

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who wilfully does any indecent act in any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access, or within view of any such place.

  2. It is a defence to a charge under this section if the person charged proves that he or she had reasonable grounds for believing that he or she would not be observed.

  3. For the purposes of this section, the term place includes any railway carriage, and also includes any ship, aircraft, or vehicle used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 156(a)