N.D. Senate OKs Cohabitation Law Change (AP)

[Eugene]

N.D. Senate OKs Cohabitation Law Change
N.D. Senate Downgrades 19th-Century 'Living in Sin'
Law From Sex Crime to Fraud

By DALE WETZEL

BISMARCK, N.D. Feb 11, 2007 (AP)— Living together out of wedlock would be
downgraded from a sex crime to fraud, and then only if the couple claims
to be married, under a proposal that passed the state Senate on Friday.

The bill was changed from an outright repeal of the state's anti-cohabitation law.
The amended proposal would make the false representation of marital status a
misdemeanor crime for a man and woman who live together.

Cohabiting couples who do not falsely claim marriage would not be penalized.

-snip-

The punishment would be the same, with a maximum 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
But the proposal would remove the blanket ban on cohabitation, which has not been
prosecuted in years, and its listing among other sex crimes, including rape and child
sexual abuse.

-snip-

Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2866421

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. So North Dakota decides to join the 19th century

Maybe in another 100 years, they'll join the 20th. :eyes: