Every corner of the world has its own rules and regulations for maintaining relationships. But do you know that there is a city where unfaithfulness to your partner is not considered a crime? Yes, you will not have to face any legal action if you are not honest in your relationship in this city.
New York has finally abolished the law criminalizing adultery, making major changes to its 116-year-old divorce law. On November 22, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law and repealed it. Under this law made in 1907, if a married person is found guilty of infidelity, he can be jailed for up to three months. However, this law was rarely used and was considered irrelevant for a long time.
Why did the Governor do this?
Commenting on the decision, Governor Kathy Hochul said, “However, I am happily married and have enjoyed a wonderful 40-year journey with my husband. It is a bit ironic for me that I am signing a bill to decriminalize adultery. But I understand that people’s relationships are complicated. These matters should be resolved individually rather than going to the courts. It is time to abolish this outdated and me.ngless law.
A New York law first enacted in 1907 allowed a person to be convicted of having sexual intercourse with someone else while he or she was already married. Just weeks after the law went into effect, it was first used against a married man and a 25-year-old woman, The New York Times reports.
However, the number of people convicted under this law has been very low over the past few decades. There was talk of abolishing this law in the 1960s, but some leaders believed that abolishing it would make it appear as if the state was promoting extramarital affairs. This decision is not only a step towards scrapping archaic and irrelevant laws, but it also gives priority to individual liberty.
