Dogging Laws
Always check local dogging laws before partaking in any dogging activities in your area
Join www.dogging-contacts.com for free and start meeting other doggers today - Click here to join
Dogging Sex Laws
Many people have questions about whether the practice of dogging — performing sex acts for voyeurs in a public or semi-public place — is legal. We can't offer you legal advice on what's OK in your locality, but, we can give you some general idea of what current laws exist governing public sex and nudity, how they are commonly enforced, and how authorities are responding to the dogging phenomenon.
Staying Out of Trouble
If you are going to go dogging and want to stay out of trouble with the law, we would suggest that you choose your locations carefully. Pick spots where it is unlikely that an unsuspecting passerby will spot you. Don't engage in dogging anywhere remotely near children or families. Steer clear of seedy areas, as they may be under patrol for other criminal activities such as prostitution or drug traffic; this is a good idea for your own safety as well.
Also, if you are dogging, make sure that you aren't committing any other offenses, such as littering, damaging property, or committing traffic violations. Keep your fun clean and safe, and keep your eyes open.
Sex Laws
In the UK, public sex laws and their enforcement has thus far been aimed mainly at "cottagers" or gay males having sex in public lavatories, etc. This soon may be changing. The House of Lords is currently debating a new Sexual Offences Bill that would make a sweeping reform of many sex laws in England, including those applying to public sex, exhibitionism, and voyeurism. It would remove language from public sex laws that specifies homosexual activity, so the laws would apply equally to gays and heterosexuals.
The reformed sex laws would outlaw sex in public lavatories altogether. However, it appears that in the case of other public sex, exposing oneself, and voyeurism, the definition of a crime depends on persons being viewed without knowledge or consent, or being forced to view an activity without giving consent. It is not clear how these laws would affect doggers if everyone involved is a willing participant. Of course, because children cannot be considered consenting under the law, if any child witnesses the activity, then it would be considered criminal. It would also be criminal if an unwary person happened by, caught sight of you, and took offense.
In the U.S., individual states have their own laws governing public sex and indecency, but in general enforcement still focuses mostly on gay males having sex in parks, public lavatories and highway rest stops.
Sex laws in other countries vary greatly. In Northern Australia, for example, sex involving more than two people is automatically considered public sex and is prohibited. In Italy, a couple having sex in their car were prosecuted for public indecency, then slapped with a greater charge of obscenity when they appealed the fine. In Germany, on the other hand, you can have sex in a moving car as long as you don't hit anything.
Sex Act Sections That Dogging Applies To
There are a number of legal documents that apply to sexual activity / dogging in public, but the newest one, and the main one to be aware of is the 2003 Sex Act. This act originally made dogging, sex in public view or in a car a prosecutable offence, due to the uproar that followed the bill was rewritten.
This rewritten version of the bill is a far better Act, that in the majority looks after those who are underage or have mental disorders. Unfortunately, the rewrite of the Act has made the popular activity of dogging more vague than ever. Remember to check all local dogging laws as they do change from state to state and country to country.
As long as you are well out of view of the non-dogging public and you take reasonable care not to get caught dogging you shouldnt have any trouble from the law. If you are unfortunate enough to get caught dogging dont be cheeky to the police and listen to what they have to say. Chances are they will just give you a warning and send you on your way. If this happens we would recomend giving up dogging for the night and not just changing location. If you get caught dogging twice in one night i doubt they will let you off with a slapped wrist.
The sections of the 2003 Sex Act to pay attention to for doggers are Section 66 Exposure and Section 67 Voyeurism.
The 2 main sections to do with dogging laws and rules are below:-
2003 Sex Act - Section 66 : Exposure
(1) An offence is committed if:
(a) he intentionally exposes his genitals, and
(b) he intends that someone will see them and be caused alarm or distress.
(2) If found guilty of an offence under this section you are liable to:
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
2003 Sex Act - Section 67 : Voyeurism
(1) An offence is committed if:
(a) for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, he observes another person doing a private act, and
(b) he knows that the other person does not consent to being observed for his sexual gratification.
(2) An offence is committed if:
(a) he operates equipment with the intention of enabling another person to observe, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, a third person (B) doing a private act, and
(b) he knows that B does not consent to his operating equipment with that intention.
(3) An offence is committed if:
(a) he records another person (B) doing a private act,
(b) he does so with the intention that he or a third person will, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, look at an image of B doing the act, and
(c) he knows that B does not consent to his recording the act with that intention.
(4) An offence is committed if:
(a) he installs equipment, or constructs or adapts a structure or part of a structure, with the intention of enabling himself or another person to commit an offence under subsection (1).
(5) If guilty of an offence under this section you are liable to:
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
Under Section 66, doggers are at risk of the law if it is their intention to cause alarm or distress to members of the public. So, if you take reasonable precautions to make sure that you are well out of public view, you should be fine. Essentially, this means only go dogging at night, away from residential areas and well away from the major carparks where anyone could turn up. If you use the carparks as a general meeting area, then move on to a more discreet location to play, you're taking steps to ensure no one is offended.
Under Section 67, doggers are only at risk if they approach couples having sex in cars that are not doggers, and therefore not consenting, but are just simply courting couples. A large number of dogging locations have grown from well established lovers lanes and gay cruising areas, so there is a potential risk of being in breach of section 67. Luckily, the signals used in dogging establish the consent of the couple wanting people to watch them have sex, and therefore section 67 no longer applies as long as you only approach cars that have signalled to you.
Dogging Crackdowns
With dogging activity becoming more widespread and visible, many local councils are becoming aware of the phenomenon and cracking down on the behaviour. Access to known dogging locations has been restricted in some places by installing fences and locking gates. Police and Forestry patrols have been stepped up in areas.
At other popular sites, agencies have installed bright lighting and CCTV cameras to discourage dogging. These measures may backfire, though. Many doggers are not deterred by cameras, as the electronic eye is just another voyeur to them. And according to Dr. Richard Byrne, who did a study on dogging with the National Forestry service, "You can't simply increase the amount of lighting - that just makes it easier to make videos or take pictures."
Part of the objection to dogging also stems from activities that people fear may be associated with it, or that may also go on at dogging spots, such as littering, property damage, public nuisance and disturbance, prostitution, public intoxication, and robbery. Whether or not this is accurate, the perception is enough to spur councils into action.
There is no clear cut answer to the question 'is dogging legal or not?', all I can suggest is that you read the articles that cover it and make your own decisions.
Or just don't get caught dogging.
As always, take care and have fun
