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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 275.32 — Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 275: Offenses Relating to Unauthorized Recording, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 275.32

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 § 275.32Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
275.32 Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree. 1. A person is guilty of unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree when without authority or written permission from the operator of a motion picture theater or live theater, the person operates a recording device in such theater. 2. As used in this section (a) "recording device" means a photographic or video camera, or any audiovisual recording function of any device used for recording the sound or picture of a motion picture; (b) "operator" means the owner or lessee of a motion picture theater or live theater or the authorized agent or employee of such owner or lessee; (c) "motion picture theater" means a theater, screening room, auditorium or other venue that is being utilized primarily for the exhibition of a motion picture at the time of the offense; and (d) "live theater" means a concert hall, recital hall, theater, or auditorium in which a presentation is rendered, consisting in whole or in part of a musical, dramatic, dance, or other stage rendition by one or more professional performers who appear in person in the immediate presence of their audiences, and admission to which is limited by its operator to persons holding an admission ticket or who have other authority or written permission to enter. Live theater shall not mean or include a musical, dramatic, dance, or other stage rendition that is performed by students enrolled in a school or college or as a part of a children's camp or similar program. Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree is a violation.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree a crime in New York?

Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree 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. Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 275.32.

Which New York statute covers unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree?

Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 275.32 (Unlawful operation of a recording device in a motion picture or live theater in the third degree).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.