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 Vermont, the criminal offense of lewd and lascivious conduct is covered under Vermont Statutes Title 13, Section 2601. This statute makes it illegal for a person to willfully and lewdly expose their body, or the private parts thereof, in a public place, or in a place where others are present, with the intent of being seen by others. This includes acts of sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or sexual contact with one's own or another's private parts when done in a public place or with recklessness as to whether others may be offended or alarmed. Lewd and lascivious conduct is generally considered a misdemeanor in Vermont, but the severity of the charge can increase under certain circumstances, such as if the act is committed in the presence of a minor. While Vermont law does not specifically use the term 'public lewdness,' the described behaviors would fall under the lewd and lascivious conduct statute. The requirement to register as a sex offender for a conviction depends on the specific circumstances of the case and the discretion of the court.