Lawyer for Public Urination Charges in Cincinnati, Ohio

In Ohio, public urination or public defecation are loosely defined, in that if you are caught urinating or defecating in public you will most likely be charged with a disorderly conduct violation. As you have likely experienced, this type of offense can be stressful and rather embarrassing. It might feel like your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors are angry at you, mocking you, or otherwise unhappy with you. On top of that, you may face severe, life-changing consequences if you were close to a school, playground, or child care center at the time of the alleged offense.

What constitutes as public urination / defecation:

• On any sort of publicly owned property such as a sidewalk, street, park, alley or yard;
• On a wall, floor, doorway, hall, staircase, or any other kind of physical property that is not intended for use as a restroom in a building that is publicly owned or open to for public use;
• Any place on private property that is not intended for use a restroom.

The resulting penalties that you will face are dependent on the facts and circumstances of your case. The minimum penalty you will face is a minor misdemeanor. This entails a $150 fine. The maximum penalty you will face is a third degree misdemeanor.  This entails at least a $150 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

An experienced criminal defense attorney in Cincinnati, OH can help. You might be wondering why an attorney is important if public urination or defecation is charged as disorderly conduct, which is typically a minor misdemeanor in the State of Ohio. It seems minor, but a misdemeanor on your permanent criminal record could impact your employment and other opportunities throughout your life. It is possible to have your criminal record expunged at a later date, but only once the statutory waiting period (typically one year from the date of final discharge) has passed. This also comes with additional paperwork, stress, and dealing with the court again.

Questions about Cincinnati public urination laws and penalties? Contact us today.

Criminal charges like public urination and public defecation can be embarrassing and stressful. They also come with fines, potential jail time, and other penalties if convicted – not to mention the impact on your family and neighborhood. Cincinnati criminal defense attorney Brad Groene has years of experience handling these types of cases. Contact us today for a free consultation at (513) 338-1890 or email us at advice@cincinnaticriminalattorney.com.