(WNY News Now) – ALBANY, NEW YORK – Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-North Shore) advocates for the repeal and decriminalization of adultery in New York, deeming the current law as outdated and unnecessary. A.4714, the bill introduced by Lavine, passed unanimously through the Codes Committee and now awaits consideration by the full chamber.
In a move to modernize New York State’s legal framework, Assemblymember Charles Lavine seeks to decriminalize adultery, a largely overlooked offense in recent decades. Lavine argues that the existing statute, dating back to a bygone era, infringes on the privacy of consenting adults and has little relevance in contemporary society.
“This outdated statute criminalizes sexual behavior between consenting adults,” Lavine asserted, emphasizing the need to remove this “archaic” provision from the penal code. The bill, A.4714, progressed swiftly, securing unanimous approval in the Codes Committee last week, prompting anticipation for its deliberation by the full chamber.
Lavine highlights the rare enforcement of the adultery law, with only 13 charges and five convictions since 1972. In most cases, adultery was added to a list of charges related to other crimes, signaling the law’s minimal impact and questionable necessity.
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