Tinkle, Tinkle Litter Law

Danielle Jackson

Trash comes in many forms, but Akron, Ohio, recently added public urination to its long list of items considered “litter.”

Previously, people caught relieving themselves in public were charged with public indecency. But city prosecutors had trouble nailing offenders under that law because it required proof that someone was offended by the action, according to city prosecutor Doug Powley.

So in October, the city passed a law qualifying urination as littering, which carries with it a third-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

“Littering provides that you may not deposit stuff on the ground — you must deposit it in a container,” Powley says.

Public urination may seem trivial to some, but “when it's occurring at your business or in your lawn, it can be very upsetting,” says Akron Police Captain Paul Calvaruso.

In fact, downtown Akron apparently is a popular spot for public urination — police have charged seven people with littering since the law took effect.
Source: The Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio