Touching Pregnant Belly: Pennsylvania Law Could Lead To Criminal Charges For Strangers Harassing Pregnant Women [VIDEO]
Though the practice of going up to a pregnant woman and touching her belly may seem commonplace, one state has no made it illegal.
Pennsylvania enacted a new law prohibiting strangers to touch the belly of a pregnant woman without her permission. According to The International Business Times, the act is now considered harassment under state law.
The law stems from a current case where a woman filed a harassment charge against a man who repeatedly touched her pregnant belly without her permission, according to The Daily News.
"Essentially, someone had touched a pregnant woman's belly," Attorney Phil DeLucente said. "That's very common that pregnant women have to go through that. The only problem is when you harass, annoy, alarm in the act of touching, then it's a violation, a harassment charge."
The news has been received as a positive step by women, with several posting on Twitter about it.
"Pennsylvania gets something right!/ it is now illegal to touch a pregnant woman's belly without permission in PA," user Eleanor's Trousers tweeted.
"It is now ILLEGAL to touch a pregnant woman's belly without permission HAHA it's about time!!!!!!!!!!!" user Alyssa Fox posted to the social media site.
It has long been an issue of etiquette in columns and blog devoted to motherhood and pregnancy, and the new threat of criminal charges has blown up several social media platforms in recent days.
