New York wants to increase penalties for indecency

NEW YORK, May 1 (Reuters) Flashers and others found guilty of public lewdness could face stiffer fines and more prison time under a proposal before New York City lawmakers, who say such crimes are increasing.

The proposal under review by law enforcement authorities calls for fines of up to 1,000 dollars and up to one year in jail, an increase from maximums of a 500 dollars fine and three months in jail. It also would make the offense a more serious misdemeanor.

Police made 556 arrests for public lewdness in 2006, up from 408 in 2005.

''You cannot believe how many women have come up to me and said this has happened to them,'' said Peter Vallone, a Democrat from Queens who initiated the proposal.

Elizabeth Dubin, a lawyer for the City Council's Public Safety Committee, said the legislation also stems from concern about people exposing themselves in front of children.

In a recent incident in Queens, a man flashed two girls and a boy aged 9 to 11 outside of a school, and later that day abducted and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl near the school, according to a council report.

In 2006, police began Operating Exposure, in which undercover cops are sent to subways to catch flashers, and its five operations resulted in 29 arrests, Dubin said.

REUTERS SY RK2317