Really? This Used To Be Illegal In New York State?

A New York State law that had been on the books for over 100 years has finally been decriminalized, and we can bet that many people in the Empire State had no idea it was illegal in the first place. 

New York, like many of the other 50 states in the U.S., has its fair share of wacky laws. For instance, did you know that you technically need a license to hang clothes on a clothesline? It’s also illegal to make eye contact or speak to anyone in an elevator (a law many of us wish was enforced more often), sell dog or cat fur (what?), or let a donkey sleep in your bathtub. 

How, and, why? Who knows. 

But we were shocked to find out that one act has been illegal here in New York State for decades, and we only found out after the Governor just signed a bill to repeal it. 

Did You Know It Was Illegal To Commit Adultery In New York?

Many consider people who cheat on their spouse to be immoral, but for many years, they were also technically a criminal.  

The New York State Legislature passed a law in 1907 banning the act of adultery, and if convicted, cheating husbands and wives could spend up to three months behind bars. Although the law has only been enforced approximately 13 times in its history, it has happened– including as recently as 2010 to a woman in Batavia. 

A bill to decriminalize the controversial New York law was introduced in 2020, and Governor Hochul finally signed it into law just last Friday (November 22nd). 

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“While I’ve been fortunate to share a loving married life with my husband for 40 years…I know that people often have complex relationships. These matters should clearly be handled by these individuals and not our criminal justice system.” - Governor Hochul

A spouse who cheats can often lead to broken hearts and traumatized families, and it’s heartbreaking for those who have to go through the consequences of a philandering husband or wife. But now, the indiscretion can’t send a former partner to the slammer.