After dark

What does After dark mean in American Law?

The definition of After dark in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

A term which is sometimes used as a synonym for “after sundown” or “nighttime,” etc. When precision is required it is an unwise choice of words, since the coming of darkness is a gradual process, and it is thus awfully difficult to know when “after dark” starts. “After 9:00 p.m.” or “after sundown” (sundown at least having a precise technical meaning) is safer drafting, especially for criminal statutes (e.g., “Arson committed after dark shall carry an additional sentence of .. ..”.), vulnerable to a vagueness finding.