Pervs masturbating in the open in New York City up by 51%: Report

In what comes as a nauseating stat, the report of pervs masturbating in the open in the streets of New York City has soared 51 per cent through June 30 this year, according to a report in the New York Post, citing NYPD data. 

Lax laws and a broken mental health system have led to the growing problem with 378 complaints lodged, compared to 251 in the same period in 2023. 

The NYPD cops had issued 159 summonses till June 30 to New York residents who were happy to openly whip out their private bits - which is a 396 per cent increase from the 32 tickets issued in 2023.  

Residents voiced their concerns about the deteriorating situation at a meeting for Manhattan's Community Board 1 last month as the cops failed to respond to their complaints.  

According to New York's indecent exposure law, lewdness, which includes exposing a penis to masturbate, is punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $500 fine, and probation.

Public lewdness in the first degree is a class A misdemeanour, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Exposure is a violation, with a maximum sentence of 15 days in jail in addition to fines and community service. 

However, police officers are of the view that even if the offenders are busted, they would be cut loose in no time. 

“This is a desk appearance ticket and a non-bail eligible offence, so he will be out within two hours,” Captain Joel Rosenthal, commanding officer of the First Precinct was quoted as saying. 

For a long time, the city of New York has been pushing against incarceration which makes it difficult for the cops to straighten out the pervs. 

Experts have also attributed the migrant crisis as one of the reasons for the law and order problem in the Big Apple. Over 200,000 migrants have entered New York from the southern borders since the spring of 2022. 

A report published in June stated that some 16,000 former hotel rooms in New York had been booked to help with the influx of migrants.