I worry about the danger of being caught jackin in a private video booth at my local ABS. I know actor Nick Stahl was caught -- not in the theater like Paul Rubens but in a private booth. So: if it's private, the door is closed and locked, how can they confirm you're doing anything "lewd"?

Anyone ever have any issues with police in these places?

Do people still visit those in this day and age? If you're online you have a world of porn right there on your phone or pc. Why would you even go to those places now? Believe me, I did back in the day but that was because that was the only place to find decent porn. Now it's, quite literally, everywhere. Why take the risk?

Good point. It's because my house is pretty full these days, difficult to find privacy...

Way more to that Nick Stahl story. Those booths lock. You have plenty of time to put your dick away if the police were outside.
if someone was caught in a booth, its because he wanted some company

I, for one, can appreciate the comment about privacy ! !

Some places only have curtains on their booths, not doors. So it could have been a place with a curtain.

I have been to plenty of ABS over the years and never went into a video booth. There were a couple in San Diego that the sound volume could be heard outside on the street. Was I afraid of being caught, maybe but never wanted to pay the booth fees as I could always jerk off at home to anything I purchased.

I haven't been to one of those in years. I was in one around 1981 that got raided (well, by one deputy sheriff) That one had locking doors and he just knocked and said I had to leave, which I did. The ones in my area went to doorless booths.

bob, you wouldn't have to be talking about Indianapolis would you? The only place I have ever found with booths in Indy was at the Annex ABS. Last time I jerked off there was about ten years ago. No doors at the time but curtains.

The difference between locking doors and curtains makes a lot of sense. Fortunately, the one near me has doors so i was able to comfortably rub one off yesterday. Such a relief!

I'm not a lawyer, but it appears the laws vary by locality.

In 2012, a New York judge ruled anyone jackin' it inside a video booth with a door has a reasonable expectation of privacy, just as you would have in a restroom or changing room. In other words, masturbating is OK. (I suspect it might not be OK if you don't clean up after yourself, but that's a different question entirely.) LINK HERE

On the other hand, a California court ruled in 1977 that you DON'T have an expectation of privacy in a video booth, says an attorney in Santa Ana. But that case involved a curtain, not a door. (As bonus, read the question -- the guy asked it in a restraint of trade context. Apparently, he sells videos of himself jerking off.) LINK HERE

A 1985 case, also in California, reinforces the ruling above and seemingly implies that it doesn't matter whether it's a door or a curtain. "Whatever constitutional protection such activity may be entitled to when it occurs in private homes, California law still accepts the proposition that the government may legitimately seek to prevent masturbation in other locales." LINK HERE

So ... nothing definitive. Google might be your friend if you search legal + masturbate + video booth + [your state]"

The important thing to note, in reading some of these cases, is that patronizing a booth isn't illegal in itself.

But let's face it ... with porn widely available for free online, isn't the element of risk a big reason why most people go to video booths? Whether they're there to jerk off, or watch someone jerk off, or hook up with someone, the taboo is the thrill (unless their personal circumstances make it impossible to watch porn and jerk off in the privacy of their homes).

Don't know the PA laws, but where i live, people jerk openly with doors open and give bj's and all. Yoe can walk around and see people jacking, cumming, blowing. Probaly fucking too.

If they were still around I would. I loved the booths at local ABS locations. Especially the gloryholes and buddy booths.

Been years since i was at De Javue in springfield, Il. Had a dance show (all nude) and a video theatre and booths as well. guys would jo in the theatre if they knew you were ok, say a local. You got to know some of the guys and they knew the others. If a stranger came into the theatre everyone would stop and cover up, but if the guy pulled out his dick and started everyone else started. there was also open sex in the theatre, guys playing with each other and sucking. Once a guy brought his wife and played with her pussy in front of everyone. The booths had doors but if you left it unlocked often a guy would open it a bit and peak in. If you waved him in he wuld lock the door behind him and you could have sex. several times i saw the police walk through and even go into theatre, but if nothing visiable was happening they would walk right out. Knew a guy who was a bouncer there, and he said never had any problems with police, but sometimes a guy would get rowdy and feel the dancers up and they would escort him out. So you had to be cautious, couldn't get buck ass naked and run down the video isles, but if you were careful lots of fun. One night in theatre I was being kissed, sucked by a second and had a third rubbing his cock on my ass. it just depended on who was their as to the action.