But keep in mind that some courts may require multiple appearances -- particularly in cases where you are contesting the public urination ticket or summons. How much does it cost to hire a lawyer in your jurisdiction? In some smaller towns, a lawyer may charge as little as a few hundred dollars to appear in court for you.
A municipal ordinance is not technically a crime or disorderly persons offense. There´s a variety of options and opportunities to get a public urination charge dismissed. First of all, the police are very aware of this activity and keep an eye out for it.
Simply put, the present cost of hiring professional legal counsel far is far outweighed by the future cost of a misdemeanor conviction. If, however, your jurisdiction treats public urination as a violation or non-criminal offense, then your decision to hire a lawyer depends on several other factors:
Therefore, the most important part of fighting your public urination case (or any criminal case for that matter) is to not make any comments to the police at the time of arrest or issuance of the summons or ticket. The only thing you are required to do is provide some form of identification upon request.
By urinating in public, you may inadvertently damage the property of others. This can result in either criminal charges or a civil case being made against you. In some cities, property damage is considered an automatic consequence of urinating in public, under city ordinance laws.
As an infraction public urination is punishable by a fine ranging from $100 to $500. Infractions do not allow for jail time. Urinating on public transportation, or in a public transportation facility, is a misdemeanor under Penal Code 640 (excluding bathrooms).
`(1) A person who urinates or defecates in any public place otherwise than by using a lavatory commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
According to a criminal attorney Los Angeles, CA, there is not a specific law in California against public urination, except on public transportation (if the behavior was a result of a disability, age, or medical condition, then it is not a criminal offense).