Make canInteractInArea player optional and add an admin check

api.lua

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ end
 
 -- Checks if the area is unprotected or owned by you
 function areas:canInteract(pos, name)
-	if minetest.check_player_privs(name, {areas=true}) then
+	if minetest.check_player_privs(name, self.adminPrivs) then
 		return true
 	end
 	local owned = false
@@ -43,26 +43,33 @@ end
 -- Note that this fails and returns false when the specified area is fully
 -- owned by the player, but with miltiple protection zones, none of which
 -- cover the entire checked area.
+-- @param name (optional) player name.  If not specified checks for any intersecting areas.
 -- @return Boolean indicating whether the player can interact in that area.
 -- @return Un-owned intersecting area id, if found.
 function areas:canInteractInArea(pos1, pos2, name)
+	if name and minetest.check_player_privs(name, self.adminPrivs) then
+		return true
+	end
 	areas:sortPos(pos1, pos2)
 	-- First check for a fully enclosing owned area
-	for id, area in pairs(self.areas) do
-		-- A little optimization: isAreaOwner isn't necessary here
-		-- since we're iterating through all areas.
-		if area.owner == name and self:isSubarea(pos1, pos2, id) then
-			return true
+	if name then
+		for id, area in pairs(self.areas) do
+			-- A little optimization: isAreaOwner isn't necessary
+			-- here since we're iterating through all areas.
+			if area.owner == name and
+					self:isSubarea(pos1, pos2, id) then
+				return true
+			end
 		end
 	end
-	-- Then check for intersecting non-owned areas
+	-- Then check for intersecting (non-owned) areas
 	for id, area in pairs(self.areas) do
 		local p1, p2 = area.pos1, area.pos2
 		if (p1.x <= pos2.x and p2.x >= pos1.x) and
 		   (p1.y <= pos2.y and p2.y >= pos1.y) and
 		   (p1.z <= pos2.z and p2.z >= pos1.z) then
 			-- Found an intersecting area
-			if not areas:isAreaOwner(id, name) then
+			if not name or not areas:isAreaOwner(id, name) then
 				return false, id
 			end
 		end

init.lua

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 areas = {}
 
+areas.adminPrivs = {areas=true}
 areas.startTime = os.clock()
 
 areas.modpath = minetest.get_modpath("areas")