A person generally commits the criminal offense of public lewdness or lewd conduct in public if the person knowingly engages in any of the following acts in a public place—or, if not in a public place, the person is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by the person’s (1) act of sexual intercourse; (2) act of deviate sexual intercourse; (3) act of sexual contact with a person’s own private parts or those of another.

Public lewdness laws vary from state to state, and some states define and charge such criminal offenses under indecent exposure laws. Public lewdness is usually a misdemeanor offense, but may be a felony offense under some circumstances. And in some states a conviction for public lewdness may require the defendant to register as a sex offender.

In Oregon, public lewdness is typically addressed under the state's public indecency laws. According to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 163.465, a person commits the crime of public indecency if while in, or in view of, a public place the person performs: (1) an act of sexual intercourse; (2) an act of deviate sexual intercourse; or (3) an act of exposing the genitals with the intent of arousing the sexual desire of the person or another person. Public indecency is considered a Class A misdemeanor. However, it can be classified as a Class C felony if the person has a prior conviction for public indecency or if the act was performed in the presence of a minor. If convicted of public indecency as a felony, the individual may be required to register as a sex offender under Oregon law.