In Arizona, it’s unlikely that urinating in public would constitute a sex offender offense. In actuality, the state doesn’t have legislation that expressly forbids urinating in public. That does not imply that you will never be punished for using the restroom in public. Rarely, the state might even file an accusation of indecent exposure. A conviction for public urination sex offender could get registered in inappropriate situations.
Additionally, several towns and localities have local rules that specifically forbid public urinating. Although punishment for public urination is much more likely in places with these rules, these crimes are not regarded as sex offenses.
Your attorney may be able to assist you in defending yourself if you have been accused of a crime for urinating in public. Even if you do not register as a sex offender, a conviction could have a detrimental effect on your life. The lawyers at Gerald Miller are prepared to assist you in defending yourself against these accusations to the utmost extent permitted by the law.
Charges for indecent exposure and public urination
Police may detain a person on suspicion of indecent exposure if they catch them urinating in the open. However, since this conduct is serious, extra proof should be requested before making an arrest. A person may be accused of indecent exposure in one of three circumstances, all of which require engaging in specific acts in front of others or in public. These actions include:
- exposing one’s body or private parts in a willful and indecent manner;
- getting someone to expose one’s private parts; or
- engaging in any open or gross lewdness, lascivious behavior, or other public indecency that is not specifically covered by this subdivision.
The first part of the law’s definition best describes public urinating. The prosecutor must prove that you displayed your private parts intentionally and lewdly in order to prove this prong of the law. Lewdness refers to more than just the exposing of a physical part. A sexually vulgar and insulting conduct is referred to as lewd. For the majority of people, going to the bathroom is not sexual in any manner.
Penalties for being found guilty of indecent exposure
A conviction for indecent exposure carries additional statutory penalties in addition to the possibility of being added to the sex offender registry. These punishments come in a wide range. Depending on the circumstances, a conviction for indecent exposure may be a misdemeanor, high misdemeanor, or felony.
It’s critical to keep in mind that a conviction for indecent exposure might completely alter your life. In addition to the disgrace and shame, you can also be subject to penalties like fines, jail time, and others. You may experience difficulties in your personal/professional life for the rest of your life if your conviction leads to being added to the sex offender registry.
If you get trapped in such situations, please consult with the law office of brandon white.
