# Sex in a vehicle, what law is broken (if any?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527 "2006-04-27T22:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/1 "2006-04-27T22:45:30Z")
Recently, while Mrs. Top was out of town for awhile, we joked about how we hoped we could control ourselves until she got home. Now she’s home, we were talking and I got to wondering; If we hadn’t waited, what laws would we have broken in the following scenarios; vehicle with untinted windows (Easy to see us), vehicle with deep tint windows (somebody, if they tried, could see us), or enclosed vehicle (impossible for somebody to see us.) Generalities are OK since this is a hypothetical situation (either we did, and got away with it; we didn’t get away with it so I know what we’d be charged with; or we didn’t and I just think about weird stuff 😃 ). Thanks in advance, DESK ---
**Author:** ![Iris\_Rings](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d78d45/32.png) [@Iris\_Rings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iris_Rings)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/2 "2006-04-27T22:49:36Z")
PDA Public Display of Affection. A misemeanor in all Red states and Boston. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/3 "2006-04-27T23:20:51Z")
Having been on the receiving end of female affections while operating a motor vehicle, the violation would fall under the heading of distracted operation, lack of attention while operating, or a similar section. As the saying goes: Og gave men two heads and enough blood to run only one at a time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/4 "2006-04-27T23:31:01Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Having been on the receiving end of female affections while operating a motor vehicle, the violation would fall under the heading of distracted operation, lack of attention while operating, or a similar section. As the saying goes: Og gave men two heads and enough blood to run only one at a time. 😉 [/QUOTE] While I agree that female affection while driving can be a bad thing, my question/questions involve not having the vehicle moving at the time. Thanks, DESK ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/5 "2006-04-27T23:55:42Z")
[QUOTE=D.E.S.K.Top668] While I agree that female affection while driving can be a bad thing, my question/questions involve not having the vehicle moving at the time. Thanks, DESK [/QUOTE] Well, not moving under engine power, anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/6 "2006-04-27T23:56:03Z")
Depending on the jurisdiction, [indecent exposure](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=332378&highlight=indecent+exposure). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/7 "2006-04-28T00:04:11Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] Having been on the receiving end of female affections while operating a motor vehicle, the violation would fall under the heading of distracted operation, lack of attention while operating, or a similar section. As the saying goes: Og gave men two heads and enough blood to run only one at a time. 😉 [/QUOTE] Tsk, tsk. Don’t you know that coming and going don’t mix? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/8 "2006-04-28T00:04:39Z")
In Virginia, you’d be guilty of violating the law against indecent exposure, which provides: > [@](#): > > Every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. I think you’d be safe in the enclosed vehicle, however. This is a general discussion of a hypothetical situation, and is not intended to be advice in applying the law to a set of real facts. I am not your lawyer. You are not my client. I am not providing anything intended to be legal advice, and you should not rely on it as legal advice. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/9 "2006-04-28T00:44:18Z")
[QUOTE=Iris Rings] PDA Public Display of Affection. A misemeanor in all Red states and Boston. [/QUOTE] And your post is a misdemeanor in General Questions. Save it for the Pit or Great Debates. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/10 "2006-04-28T12:01:53Z")
An ex-girlfriend and I got caught at 1 in the morning in my car, in a parking lot, at a bank. Whoops. A cop rolled up and said we had to leave and if we got caught again we’d get busted for trespassing. He seemed not to care at all what we were doing. (Ohio) If the car starts-a-rockin’ don’t bother knockin’. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/11 "2006-04-28T12:19:39Z")
There was an article on this subject in my local newspaper a while back. The cops just ascertain that no sexual assault is going on, then tell the people to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Matthew1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@Matthew1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Matthew1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/12 "2006-04-28T12:50:57Z")
My S.O.-of-the-time and I were in a car in a pull-off by my old school…we were not doing anything wrong but just sitting to talk…I think it was just out of curiousity that a policeman stopped and asked what we were doing…didn’t seem to care much, but he was just wondering if everything was alright…of course, it was…haha matthew1 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/13 "2006-04-28T13:02:33Z")
I have a friend who got a blow job while going through the Burger King drive-thru. No one bothered to call the cops. It was way too entertaining! I think untinted windows would get you a ticket. Tinted windows would probably not, as the person watching you would have to press their face up to the glass to get a look. That’s just not fair. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/14 "2006-04-28T15:49:41Z")
[QUOTE=The Chao Goes Mu] An ex-girlfriend and I got caught at 1 in the morning in my car, in a parking lot, at a bank. Whoops. A cop rolled up and said we had to leave and if we got caught again we’d get busted for trespassing. He seemed not to care at all what we were doing. (Ohio) SNIP [/QUOTE] Kids, be careful with that. Most banks nowadays have 1-5 cameras covering their parking lots and drive-thru lanes. Hate to see you on the Internet… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/15 "2006-04-28T15:58:17Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] Kids, be careful with that. Most banks nowadays have 1-5 cameras covering their parking lots and drive-thru lanes. Hate to see you on the Internet… [/QUOTE] Heheehh. I have learned my lesson. Having a cop tap on the window and shine a light on us as we’re frantically zipping up our pants scared the bejeebus out of me. I was 28 at the time. 6 years ago. The possiblity of being busted for public boffing made my arse pucker. Did I mention I’m gay and live in Ohio? No more car sex for me…well, unless you count the times my current partner and I have been flying down the highway when… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/16 "2006-04-28T16:05:43Z")
In a fully-enclosed vehicle, parked legally, I think you’re safe. The cops may roust you, but I don’t think they can charge you with anything, unless you are so loud that passers-by can clearly hear your entreaties. Otherwise, the usual “indecent exposure” laws will trip you up. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/17 "2006-04-28T16:08:05Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] And your post is a misdemeanor in General Questions. Save it for the Pit or Great Debates. **samclem** [/QUOTE] Jeez, lighten up, Francis. In Wisconsin the OP and Missus OP would be guilty of Public Fornication: > [@Wis stats 944.15](#): > > (1) In this section, “in public” means in a place where or in a manner such that the person knows or has reason to know that his or her conduct is observable by or in the presence of persons other than the person with whom he or she is having sexual intercourse. > > (2) Whoever has sexual intercourse in public is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. They could probably also get you for Disorderly Conduct: > [@Wis stats 947.01](#): > > Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/18 "2006-04-28T16:10:09Z")
Yeah. I’ve heard apocyrphal tales of Ohio residents winding up as “registered sex offenders” due to having had (otherwise legal) sex in cars and getting caught. I’m hoping those tales were apocryphal. Thanks for clarifying the “gay in Ohio” thing, btw. It helped give me context for your answers in that Cafe Society thread on TV show hotties… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/19 "2006-04-28T16:21:06Z")
No mention of what charges may be filed, but this [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/DE1C567533039C238625715E00162831?OpenDocument](http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/metroeast/story/DE1C567533039C238625715E00162831?OpenDocument) is certainly timely. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-a-vehicle-what-law-is-broken-if-any/354527/20 "2006-04-28T16:52:00Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] There was an article on this subject in my local newspaper a while back. The cops just ascertain that no sexual assault is going on, then tell the people to leave. [/QUOTE] As happened to me. The windows were quite fogged up and it was raining pretty hard. The cop tapped on the glass and we rolled down the window just enough to make eye contact. He asked my female companion if she was there because she wanted to be there. She thankfully said “Yes” and he told us to get lost.