Urination bill a relief for some

The Washington Times ^ | 7-26-05 | Amy Doolittle

[JZelle]

Montgomery County officials, prompted by complaints from business owners and residents, is set to approve a bill that would make it illegal to answer nature's call in public. Montgomery County is the only area jurisdiction that does not have a law prohibiting public urination, but the council's Public Safety Committee yesterday unanimously recommended a bill to address the issue. Council President Tom Perez and County Executive Douglas M. Duncan sponsored Bill 1805 after a Wheaton public safety audit completed in November labeled public urination as a top health concern in the downtown area. Business owners and local officials said the problem has become notably worse with redevelopment in the Wheaton area, where restaurants and bars have opened downtown. Residents who reported public exposure and foul odors discovered that the county had never enacted a law or even considered a bill against public urination. "No one really understood why they didn't have the law already, and a lot of people presumed that it was already in place," said Gayle Driver, an assistant state's attorney in Wheaton. "You hear little bits from people saying why are people urinating, and you have to explain that there is no law banning it. If we can get legislation to make it illegal, we can do something."

[JZelle]

Will a law really make a difference? We're becoming a third world country, we should start seeing public defacation soon.

[TBarnett34]

There's quite a few places where public urination will land you square on the sex offender registry, regardless of whether you were trying to conceal yourself or not.

[tfecw]

I'm suprised the poster child for the term "Nanny State" didn't have a law banning public urination.

[NY Attitude]

In some places in California, this is commonplace.

[Miss Behave]

OMG, that title.

[T'wit]

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Pardon me, while I whip this out."

[Bob]

OMG, that title.

I'm sure that's only half the title. It should have been "...relief for some; no relief for others" :=)

[Trainfish]

This will be difficult to shake. Legislation like this will make none the wizer. A real drain on society.

I.P. Freely

[ErnBatavia]

In some places in California, this is commonplace.

Yep - first time I saw it was in the warehouse district of downtown Los Angeles (area adjacent to Skid Row). A bag lady stopped her cart on the sidewalk, hefted her skirt and downloaded in broad daylight.

(and this was over 30 years ago)

[headsonpikes]

Shouldn't this be yours?

[NY Attitude]

This just happens to be an every night occurrence. The place that I am referring to has cameras all around the building and the (cameras) deter no one.

[PeterPrinciple]

Deu 23:13 And you shall have a paddle on your weapon. And it shall be, when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover that which comes from you.

This was address in the law a long time ago.

[Recovering_Democrat]

[codyjacksmom]

When me and my husband go night fishing at a forest preserve, I have no problem using the great outdoors. The closest port-a-pot is across the park and I'm not going there. LOL

[isom35]

this really pisses me off.

[codyjacksmom]

If you're an American when you go into the bathroom, and an American when you come out, what are you while you're in the bathroom?

European

[BibChr]

I don't know what the article's about, but it's the best title this year -- second only to World's Scariest Smiling Goat Joins Palestinian Protestors.

Dan

[Fog Nozzle]

What about aiding and abetting?

[steve-b]

Have any more details been leaked?