Legal Definitions - night

Night is the time from sunset to sunrise when it is dark outside. It is also the time when a person's face is not easily visible. In some cases, the term "night" is defined by law, such as in a statute requiring specific authorization for night searches.

• A person who breaks into a house with the intent to commit a crime during the time from sunset to sunrise is considered a burglar under the common-law definition.
• A statute may define "night" as thirty minutes after sunset and thirty minutes before sunrise.
• Many animals are active at night, such as owls and bats.

The first example illustrates how the common-law definition of "night" is used to define the crime of burglary. The second example shows how "night" can be defined by statute. The third example demonstrates how some animals are active during the time when it is dark outside.

The opposite of night is day, which is the time from sunrise to sunset when it is light outside. Nighttime is another term for night.