New York legal term
Public place in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Public place” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Public place” mean in New York criminal law?
"Public place" means a place to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, and includes, but is not limited to, highways, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement, parks, playgrounds, community centers, and hallways, lobbies and other portions of apartment houses and hotels not constituting rooms or apartments designed for actual residence. 2. (N.Y. Penal Law § 240.00)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Prohibited use of weapons
- Appearance in public under the influence of narcotics or a drug other than alcohol
- Disorderly conduct
- Exposure of a person
- Falsely reporting an incident in the first degree
- Fraudulent accosting
- Harassment in the first degree
- Harassment in the second degree
- Jostling
- Loitering
- Placing a false bomb or hazardous substance in the first degree
- Promoting prostitution in the fourth degree
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.