These harsher convictions may force someone to register as a sex offender in some states. So what does it mean to urinate in public? It constitutes as relieving oneself in an area that is open to the public. Whether behind trees and bushes, an alleyway, or on the side of an abandoned building, if you are caught relieving yourself in public, you may be subjected to legal ramifications, including jail time.
A Misdemeanor Could Mean Jail
In states where urinating in public is charged as a minor infraction of disorderly conduct or public lewdness, offenders face being convicted of a misdemeanor. The penalties for misdemeanors vary from state to state, but can include any combination of probation, fines, community service, drug testing, and even jail. The chances of jail time increase with enhancements, like having prior convictions, urinating on school grounds or within the presence of children, and so forth.
When it comes to being arrested for public urination, the circumstances also vary among states, and even among the personal preference of law enforcement. Sometimes, if a person is young or very cooperative, a cop will let a person go without citing them, but this is rare. Most often, a person who is caught urinating in public will be arrested and taken to the local county jail where they can post bond as soon as it is set. In other cases, a cop may simply cite a person and give them a court summons to appear on a certain dateto hear their charges and enter a plea.
Posting Bond for Public Urination
Generally, posting bond after being arrested for public urination can happen quickly. Of course, this also depends on the amount of traffic is in the jail, what day of the week it is, and if a person demonstrates good behavior. But if a person is arrested for urinating in public, and they are also intoxicated, the process will take longer because most jails will not process an inmate until they are deemed sober. The wait time for this is 8 to 10 hours. Once this amount of time has passed, and the person is cooperative, they can be processed and then given a chance to post their bail. If a person is sober when arrested, they could post their bond as soon as it is set, so long as they are on good behavior. Bonds can be set in as little as one hour.