5 July 2010

Public urination - don't get caught

| johnboy
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The Canberra Times brings word that since Christmas even 148 Canberrans have been fined for having a wee where the police could see them.

And one police sergeant believes the fines have helped reduce the instance of the unhygienic offence. The fines or criminal infringement notices were established to help police deal with minor matters quickly and provide a deterrent.

The acting officer in charge at City Police station, Sergeant Max Mokrij, said the fines had been an effective and efficient tool for police.

”The process has reduced the administrative burden on police officers. Police believe that [the fines] have had reduced the number of public-order offences in the Canberra CDB particularly public urination,” he said.

A good use of policing resources?

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neanderthalsis said :

dvaey said :

buzz819 said :

I don’t think the police are actively out their looking for public pissers. They haven’t to my knowledge establised the “Yellow Rivers Task Force” to hang around back alleys and bushes near bars to find drunkards taking a leak. It is a target of opportunity for a plod on the beat, not their sole focus for the night.

Agreed. If they see them doing it of course they should give them the fine, they cant just ignore it because they are meant to be “looking for more serious law breakers”.

A few of those 19th century Parisian wrought iron pissoirs connected directly to the street drainage (not the sewer system unless convenient) would remove most of the problem. But they have to be free and in areas where they can be seen by potential users, not 100 metres or further away. And yes, female versions have been designed.

Try having a few drinks, taking a leak before leaving licenced premises while still relatively sober, then waiting an half an hour or more for a taxi and find out what the physiological effect is.

Government collects the licence fees from clubs and pubs, then refuses to do anything about the minor consequences of the generation of those fees except to criminalise it.

georgesgenitals1:03 pm 06 Jul 10

It reminds me of a time camping as a younger man, standing intoxicated on a cliff top under a starry sky, looking out to sea, with the warm wind taking my piss on a lofty adventure.

WonderfulWorld said :

I had a mate once that got done for whizzing outside a bar at about 2am. It was a very embarrasing eposide for him to go to court and go through the charges. It didn’t stop him though as some people have really weak bladders after a night on the town and they also suffer from memory loss. Lose / Lose in this situation.

I had a mate who got caught too and had to go to court along with all the aggravated burglary types. It did teach him a lesson I guess but he did make the point (to me, not the judge) that it was very late and all the public toilets were closed. I’m not sure what else you can do when it gets that desperate.

Oscillate Wildly11:32 am 06 Jul 10

Ello Vera, only your own urine is ‘safe’ for you to drink. Other people’s urine is not. Also, it’s only sterile while it’s in your body, not once it’s out!

geetee said :

PS – But ask any male cop to put his hand up if he’s NEVER had a pee outside and I’ll show you a liar..

There is a difference with someone that is in dire need to “relieve” and finding a discrete and appropriate place to do so, and drunken idiots who piss in a open, public area, generally where someone has to work, walk past and/or clean after them. Lets put things in perspective here !!

Ello Vera said :

We should emulate the Romans and provide collection points for the urine, which can then be sold on to industry to use as they see fit. WTF is so bad about a bit of piss? It may be nasty and tainted by the fact that It Comes From Our Bodies but honestly, the stuff is so clean you can drink it.

Spit and faeces, different story. Nasty stuff and Not Clean. But, cops, waste of time. Go or something more important.

Lets have a dozen people pissing on your front door and then I would like to see you say it’s not bad. Pfft. Apart from the fact citizens don’t need to see one’s wangers out either.

Also, I agree with many others – i’m not sure the police really care if you duck off behind a bush in one of Canberra’s many large nature reserves and no one can see you and neither do I – it’s more the pissing in alleyways in civic on a Friday night that irks me

And top show to all those posters with excellent but terrible pee-puns. Love it 🙂

dvaey said :

While it may be an American slogan, arent the police there to serve and protect? Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law. The question shouldnt be ‘good use of Policing resources’, but ‘best use of Policing resources’. Some people might say its their duty to enforce jay-walking laws across Northborne, but if theyre enforcing this law at the expense of being away from an assault, it might be good use of resources, but its not the best use.

While we’re on America: In his (successful) efforts to clean up New York of murder and drugs in the early 90’s Rudy Guiliani started with enforcement of petty misdemeanor crimes like jumping over train station turnstiles, jaywalking and (probably) peeing in public. Aside from the fact that most of those arrested also had outstanding warrants for more serious crimes the philosophy was that if you clean up the city of petty crimes and there was a police presence out there, always doing something then the people were less likely to commit crimes in general (including more serious stuff) and the city less likely to slide into being a shithole – this is valuable police work.

Besides, I don’t want to live in a city that stinks of piss – you only need to go to central London (soho) or cities in SE Asia to know what I mean

dvaey said :

buzz819 said :

I find it funny that when ever there is something in the paper saying the Police are doing this or doing that, what ever, there is always a sentence saying, A good use of Policing resources?

If Police are doing anything in relation to enforcing the laws, then yes, yes it is a good use of Policing resources.

While it may be an American slogan, arent the police there to serve and protect? Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law. The question shouldnt be ‘good use of Policing resources’, but ‘best use of Policing resources’. Some people might say its their duty to enforce jay-walking laws across Northborne, but if theyre enforcing this law at the expense of being away from an assault, it might be good use of resources, but its not the best use.

Sorry I don’t think the Police are here to serve you. I really don’t. They are there to enforce the law and protect the community from the people who do not.

Public urination is disgusting. Someone wrote up there, what’s the harm? The smell, the people having to clean other peoples bodily fluids, this is a giant waste of their time, now isn’t it?

I have seen Police enforce what you call “jay walking.” As I stated in my first post. It is not about how big or small the law is. The Police are their to enforce the law, be it crossing at a pedestrian crossing at a red light, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, murder, speeding, drink driving – whatever.

Stopping an assault or a robbery? If they find someone that is urinating in public, most of the time the person urinating is drunk and by themselves, seems to me from the press releases of late these are the people that are getting robbed and assaulted. The Police find them doing a p!ss, fine them, put them in a Taxi – that person didn’t get assaulted or robbed, seems to me they are doing their jobs?

Gee-wizz….people are having a wee bit of fun here.

Anything which will slash crime rates is bound to be an efficient use of cop resources. This should relieve many in the ACT.

Course if you’re the one caught, it’s a real pisser as urine real trouble. Though the fine looks to be a piddling amount, you’re gonna have to spend a penny or two..

Bit shocked they bothered to put out a media release on this though. It’d be perfect for a leak..

Regards
I P Freely

PS – But ask any male cop to put his hand up if he’s NEVER had a pee outside and I’ll show you a liar..

CanberraCreative said :

Also, don’t use the outside ATMs in Civic… enough said.

Or any public BBQ’s.

dvaey said :

buzz819 said :

I find it funny that when ever there is something in the paper saying the Police are doing this or doing that, what ever, there is always a sentence saying, A good use of Policing resources?

If Police are doing anything in relation to enforcing the laws, then yes, yes it is a good use of Policing resources.

While it may be an American slogan, arent the police there to serve and protect? Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law. The question shouldnt be ‘good use of Policing resources’, but ‘best use of Policing resources’. Some people might say its their duty to enforce jay-walking laws across Northborne, but if theyre enforcing this law at the expense of being away from an assault, it might be good use of resources, but its not the best use.

And most unpredictable response of the year doesn’t go to……………

You have no idea what community policing is about, none whatsoever

BrassRazoo said :

Actually, there should be similar measures taken against public expectorators, given the heightened public health risks these days. It’s been disappointing recently seeing young males – at a shopping centre and several times while waiting outside a college to collect a student – publicly slagging or whatever it’s called these days (usually in conjunction with a studied look-at-me-aren’t-I-cool puff on a cigarette and tough-man swagger). IME, this used to be the type of thing some young grubs did at around 12-15 years, not 16-20.

Haven’t you learnt that 16-20 year olds are actually immune to law and order?

This made me laugh, as a bloke from the country I’ve pee’d on a few things in my time (including my little brother and he survived) without the fear of being slapped with a fine.

I’ve been known to hide behind a tree when I’ve been caught out far from an open convenience during the night time. Being new to Canberra, I often find myself in a spot where I have no idea where to find a loo, so I find on occasion that I need to head off the beaten track and use a bush. I think it is a fair and reasonable thing to find an out of the way spot behind a bush or a tree and would feel quite put out if I was fined. On the other hand, if I was doing it down stairs or where people walked, that would be a different story.

We should emulate the Romans and provide collection points for the urine, which can then be sold on to industry to use as they see fit. WTF is so bad about a bit of piss? It may be nasty and tainted by the fact that It Comes From Our Bodies but honestly, the stuff is so clean you can drink it.

Spit and faeces, different story. Nasty stuff and Not Clean. But, cops, waste of time. Go or something more important.

WonderfulWorld8:59 pm 05 Jul 10

I had a mate once that got done for whizzing outside a bar at about 2am. It was a very embarrasing eposide for him to go to court and go through the charges. It didn’t stop him though as some people have really weak bladders after a night on the town and they also suffer from memory loss. Lose / Lose in this situation.

CanberraCreative5:43 pm 05 Jul 10

Try sitting in the public gallery at the Magistrates Court on Monday morning… I feel sorry for the poor prosecutors who have to read the same brief statement of facts over and over. The what, where and even how long!
One interesting fact you’ll learn is public urinators don’t have stage fright when cops come over and apprehend them. They just keep going.
Also, don’t use the outside ATMs in Civic… enough said.

dvaey said :

buzz819 said :

I find it funny that when ever there is something in the paper saying the Police are doing this or doing that, what ever, there is always a sentence saying, A good use of Policing resources?

If Police are doing anything in relation to enforcing the laws, then yes, yes it is a good use of Policing resources.

While it may be an American slogan, arent the police there to serve and protect? Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law. The question shouldnt be ‘good use of Policing resources’, but ‘best use of Policing resources’. Some people might say its their duty to enforce jay-walking laws across Northborne, but if theyre enforcing this law at the expense of being away from an assault, it might be good use of resources, but its not the best use.

I think you need to read post 15 by vandam, as it really hits the nail on the head. It is an excellent use of Police resources, because before these infringement notices, the time used processing the offences, were 5 times as long. Besides, where these offences are committed, are usually where the assaults occur (club district) Now the officer deals with the “pisser” and is free to deal with possible assaults. Before, they would be back at the station … Win, win all round I say !!!

neanderthalsis5:03 pm 05 Jul 10

dvaey said :

buzz819 said :

Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law.

I don’t think the police are actively out their looking for public pissers. They haven’t to my knowledge establised the “Yellow Rivers Task Force” to hang around back alleys and bushes near bars to find drunkards taking a leak. It is a target of opportunity for a plod on the beat, not their sole focus for the night.

buzz819 said :

I find it funny that when ever there is something in the paper saying the Police are doing this or doing that, what ever, there is always a sentence saying, A good use of Policing resources?

If Police are doing anything in relation to enforcing the laws, then yes, yes it is a good use of Policing resources.

While it may be an American slogan, arent the police there to serve and protect? Id like to think police would be stopping assaults, robberies, etc, rather than pinging some drunk with a fine for doing something he probably wont even remember in the morning. While I agree that it should be illegal, I have to wonder what duties theyre sacrificing to enforce this law. The question shouldnt be ‘good use of Policing resources’, but ‘best use of Policing resources’. Some people might say its their duty to enforce jay-walking laws across Northborne, but if theyre enforcing this law at the expense of being away from an assault, it might be good use of resources, but its not the best use.

Actually it is a great use of Police resources.

Simply:

To write out a Criminal infringement notice may take about 20 minutes of Police time. The public pisser get’s their ticket and off they go.

Before the notice’s Police would have to arrest/charge the person. Meaning time in custody, more paper work and a later date at court.

Rather than tying up numerous coppers for hours while they type out the facts and babysit them in the cells, we have 1 copper that simply writes out a ticket. It’s easier on the court system too.

Now, whether people should be ticketed for wizzing in public, my oath they should. I’ve been out and seen people wizzing on shop fronts, walk ways and places where people eat and sit in the city. Seriously it doesn’t take much to walk around a corner and hide yourself from public view.

Actually, there should be similar measures taken against public expectorators, given the heightened public health risks these days. It’s been disappointing recently seeing young males – at a shopping centre and several times while waiting outside a college to collect a student – publicly slagging or whatever it’s called these days (usually in conjunction with a studied look-at-me-aren’t-I-cool puff on a cigarette and tough-man swagger). IME, this used to be the type of thing some young grubs did at around 12-15 years, not 16-20.

This unfairly discriminates against League and Rugby players and fans and what if you’re French or Japanese as well?

georgesgenitals2:36 pm 05 Jul 10

phototext said :

“A revenue stream.”

Gold!

Yes, it is gold.

georgesgenitals2:35 pm 05 Jul 10

What a pisser!

phototext said :

“A revenue stream.”

Gold!

A veritable golden shower of revenue?

any news about deification in public? same offense? – or will they do you for littering?

phototext said :

“A revenue stream.”

Gold!

golder… 😉

“A revenue stream.”

Gold!

Do the public toilets in Civic still close at midnight?

A revenue stream.

I don’t think there is anyone out there who would suggest this is a revenue raising exercise. They’d have to catch a lot more public pissers to make it turn a profit. Asking the question about what is and isn’t a beneficial use of police time is the only way we will make sure that they stay focused on what is important and not get side tracked on revenue raising or issues of political importance.

Personally I think that this probably a very good use of police time. While I am not against the occasional leak behind a tree when the occasion calls for it, people who pee down stairs in Woden deserve everything they get.

I find it funny that when ever there is something in the paper saying the Police are doing this or doing that, what ever, there is always a sentence saying, A good use of Policing resources?

What I think people should be thinking that Police do is to make sure people are not breaking the law. They are not there as people to settle petty disputes, to stop people from parking on your lawn blah blah blah.

Police enforce speed limits, because that is the law, not to raise revenue, Police enforce laws against public urination because that is the law, not a revenue raiser. Police enforce littering, drink driving and many many other laws, not because they are having a bad day, not because they want to raise money (That none of them actually see) but because if they didn’t and people didn’t follow the laws then you would get a stated of anarchy where more people would be running around hurting and killing people.

If Police are doing anything in relation to enforcing the laws, then yes, yes it is a good use of Policing resources.

It’s a good use. Nobody wants to step in, smell or see someone else’s wizz. Well, you know, most people…

“Thank you, Mayor Simpson. Because of you, we are all taking golden showers.” Kent Brockman.

Good use of police resources? Probably not.

A unsociable digusting thing to do? Undoubtedly!

The stairs from Woden Square (Bank House area) to the interchange at Woden seem to attract the public wee-ers. There is a guy in a kilt (I kid you not) who has made this is public toilet of choice! Not a charming thing to discover if you use the stairs particularly mid stream! If you see guys sitting on the stairs……well you get the idea.

Oh for a police officer at those moments.

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