Is it Legal to Have Sex in Your Car in Nevada?
This is a great question! The answer, however, does not have a simple, “yes/no” response. The problem is not that you are having sex within a car. The problem according to the law is that you are having sex in public. So, if your car is in your garage and you and your special someone really like the car, you can certainly have sex in the car so long as no one else can see you. Unfortunately, you cannot have sex in your car if your car is parked in a public place.
What Does the Law Say?
This law is pretty straightforward. NRS 201.190 states that it is unlawful to perform regular, oral, or anal sex in public. However, the law stipulates that only those of “full age” can be charged with a crime. It is a defense to the crime of public indecency to say that you were under 18 at the time of the commission of the offense. Therefore, a teenager getting caught at a make-out spot typically will not be charged with a crime.
Nevada law takes all sex crimes seriously, and those who are convicted under Nevada statutes must register as Tier 1 sex offenders. This is a serious ramification of a criminal conviction, and it can impact your life for years afterward.
Defenses to Public Lewdness
The public lewdness statute specifically prohibits three types of sex — anal, oral, and PIV. That means that a penis has to be inside one of three cavities in the body. The prosecution must prove this specifically. Otherwise, there is no crime.
Most of these crimes and their penalties are quite old and were likely originally passed to curtail prostitution, which is legal in some Nevada counties.
Do Not Have Sex in Public
Remember that even if you are in your car, you may still be visible to the public. If you are in “public,” which could include a club or private party depending on where it is held, it would be unlawful for you to engage in sexual intercourse. However, fetish shows and sex parties get around these laws by closing events to the public, operating on private property, and avoiding sex acts that are legally actionable.
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