People have been “exposing themselves” for a very long time. Sometimes, people do it to be funny; for example, a football enthusiast streaking across the football field as fans cheer him on, laughing along with him. Sometimes, people unintentionally expose themselves. Sometimes, it’s a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other times, people are reckless and fail to think their actions through, and they end up offending people nearby who don’t want to see private parts in public places.
Virtually every state has enacted some type of law criminalizing showing too much skin. In Texas, the law is covered under
Section 21.08 of the Texas Penal Code and it’s referred to as “Indecent Exposure.”
Indecent Exposure Under Texas Law
Under Sec. 21.08 it states: “A person commits an offense if he exposes his anus or any part of his genitals with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, and he is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by his act.”
Examples of indecent exposure:
- A man flashes his genitals to his girlfriend at an amusement park and five other park visitors see him do it.
- A flirtatious young woman changes her bathing suit on a beach, in public view, in an attempt to attract a couple young men who were watching her.
- A high school senior exposes his genitals to a pretty girl in class.
In Texas, indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, or by a fine not to exceed $2,000, or by a fine and imprisonment under Section 12.22 of the Texas Penal Code.
Are you facing indecent exposure charges in Plano, Dallas or Fort Worth? If so, we urge you to contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to schedule an initial consultation. To learn more about our legal team, check out our Firm Profile page.