View Full Version : Misdemeanor of the 4th degree
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 07:49 AM
Has anyone ever gotten in trouble for Peeing in Public? I got a ticket for it and have to go to court. It was a Misdemeanor of the 4th degree and I have never had anything on my record so I was wanting to know what kind of punishment I would get? I am hoping for just a fine but like I said I have never been in this siutaion so I wanted to get some feed back.
Thanks
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 08:22 AM
Has anyone ever gotten in trouble for Peeing in Public? I got a ticket for it and have to go to court. it was a Misdemeanor of the 4th degree and I have never had anything on my record so I was wanting to know what kind of punishment I would get? I am hoping for just a fine but like I said I have never been in this siutaion so I wanted to get some feed back.
thanks
Probably a fine and a harsh lecture. Is the ticket for indecent exposure? Public nuisance?
In some States you can be sentenced to not more than 30 days in jail. You have no past record?
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 08:30 AM
Probably a fine and a harsh lecture. Is the ticket for indecent exposure? Public nuisance?
In some States you can be sentenced to not more than 30 days in jail. You have no past record?
Yeah I have no past record...
It doesn't really say either on there it just has comments about the Section Blah blah
And it does say exposed private parts
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 08:36 AM
Yeah I have no past record....
It doesnt really say either on there it just has comments about the Section Blah blah
And it does say exposed private parts
It's indecent exposure. I'll "guess" (no one but the Judge knows what the sentence will be) that you will be given a fine no more than $250 and a harsh lecture about keeping zipped up in public.
Now, if there were children around or females (and I don't see any indication of this) I see another scenario.
excon
Dec 17, 2008, 09:08 AM
Hello nj:
Judy is right on. They probably won't slam you too hard...
However, they MIGHT want to tag you as a sex offender. That's something you should AVOID at ALL costs. THAT will be problamatic for the REST of your life.
Sooooo, I wouldn't be going into this without some legal help. As a matter of fact, I'd hire the best criminal lawyer I could find.
excon
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 09:10 AM
Hello nj:
Judy is right on. They probably won't slam you too hard...
However, they MIGHT want to tag you as a sex offender. That's something you should AVOID at ALL costs. THAT will be problamatic for the REST of your life.
Sooooo, I wouldn't be going into this without some legal help. As a matter of fact, I'd hire the best criminal lawyer I could find.
excon
Ok so if they won't slam me to hard I don't see them tagging me as a sex offender! That is crazy there was no one around He seen me as he was driving by
excon
Dec 17, 2008, 09:20 AM
That is crazy Hello again, nj:
It IS crazy... That doesn't mean the state won't do it!!
But, if you feel confident, go for it... I sure wouldn't. I KNOW these people.
excon
twinkiedooter
Dec 17, 2008, 09:28 AM
Had this happened in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific you would have been given a $5 fine. Over here in America anything can happen! Better take Excon's advice and seek legal assistance if this is not just a fine you can pay and that's the end of it. If you have to appear in Court, the Judge can sentence you to jail!
Fr_Chuck
Dec 17, 2008, 11:06 AM
Yes there are a lot of cases where they call this a sex crime and put you there with the sex offenders.
So I would get an attoreny, while most likely a fine and nothing else, this type of charge has hurt a lot of people for years to come
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 11:37 AM
yes there are alot of cases where they call this a sex crime and put you there with the sex offenders.
So I would get an attoreny, while most likely a fine and nothing else, this type of charge has hurt alot of people for years to come
I found this on the watch dog webiste
This is one of the biggest sex offender myths propagated by registry opponents. There are no more than 463 offenders in a population of over 150,000 that could possibly have been convicted of peeing in public.
Background
There is not a single state that requires a conviction and registration for peeing in public. These states have laws against exposing one’s genitalia to the view of a minor or another person who may be offended. If you are peeing into a bush and no one can see your genitalia, there is no crime and no requirement for registration.
Below are the 13 states referenced in the HRW study. We have included the total number of offenders registered by state for a single conviction for Indecent Exposure (or Public Indecency):
State
Count
AZ
0
CA
0
CT
0
*
ID
6
GA
21
KY
0
MA
0
MI
0
**
NH
0
OK
433
***
SC
0
UT
3
VT
0
Even if all 463 offenders were convicted of peeing in public (statistical probability 0%), this would only account for less than 0.1% of all offenders.
* CT law does not make simple Public Indecency a registerable offense
Sec. 53a-186. Public indecency: Class B misdemeanor. - Connecticut Sec. 53a-186. Public indecency: Class B misdemeanor. - Connecticut Code :: Justia (http://law.justia.com/connecticut/codes/title53a/sec53a-186.html)
** Michigan requires a second conviction of Indecent Exposure that includes fondling under Section 335 to be a registerable offense.
(Michigan Legislature (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-28-722))
Michigan Legislature (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-750-335a)
*** A statistically significant sample of 50 of the 433 Oklahoma offenders convicted of a single count of Indecent Exposure exposed the following:
8 not found in DOC records
8 sentences suspended
12 incarcerated
22 were sentenced to probation (between 4 and 20 years)
It is highly unlikely that an offender convicted of peeing in public would be sentenced to probation or incarceration.
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 01:10 PM
I found this on the watch dog webiste
This is one of the biggest sex offender myths propagated by registry opponents. There are no more than 463 offenders in a population of over 150,000 that could possibly have been convicted of peeing in public.
Background
There is not a single state that requires a conviction and registration for peeing in public. These states have laws against exposing one's genitalia to the view of a minor or another person who may be offended. If you are peeing into a bush and no one can see your genitalia, there is no crime and no requirement for registration.
Below are the 13 states referenced in the HRW study. We have included the total number of offenders registered by state for a single conviction for Indecent Exposure (or Public Indecency):
State
Count
AZ
0
CA
0
CT
0
*
ID
6
GA
21
KY
0
MA
0
MI
0
**
NH
0
OK
433
***
SC
0
UT
3
VT
0
Even if all 463 offenders were convicted of peeing in public (statistical probability 0%), this would only account for less than 0.1% of all offenders.
* CT law does not make simple Public Indecency a registerable offense
Sec. 53a-186. Public indecency: Class B misdemeanor. - Connecticut Sec. 53a-186. Public indecency: Class B misdemeanor. - Connecticut Code :: Justia (http://law.justia.com/connecticut/codes/title53a/sec53a-186.html)
** Michigan requires a second conviction of Indecent Exposure that includes fondling under Section 335 to be a registerable offense.
(Michigan Legislature (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-28-722))
Michigan Legislature (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-750-335a)
*** A statistically significant sample of 50 of the 433 Oklahoma offenders convicted of a single count of Indecent Exposure exposed the following:
8 not found in DOC records
8 sentences suspended
12 incarcerated
22 were sentenced to probation (between 4 and 20 years)
It is highly unlikely that an offender convicted of peeing in public would be sentenced to probation or incarceration.
Once again I have no idea why people post when they think they already know the answer. My suggestion - you know how it works. Go to Court without an Attorney and give the Judge your statistics.
Come back and let us know what happens so "we" can inform the next person.
Meanwhile - I stand by my advice.
Oh, and in the future, keep it in your pants when you're in public. I don't want myself or my children walking through your urine.
chiquitavallejo
Dec 17, 2008, 01:13 PM
It can really go a number of ways, but its not a major crime. If you write a decent apology the judge might just say don't do it again. You might just have to do community service... this really won't affect you in the future too much, as in it won't prevent you from getting jobs or anything like that... just try to relax, it will all blow over. And then you'll have a funny story to tell later!
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 01:15 PM
It can really go a number of ways, but its not a major crime. If you write a decent apology the judge might just say dont do it again. You might just have to do community service... this really won't affect you in the future too much, as in it wont prevent you from getting jobs or anything like that... just try to relax, it will all blow over. And then you'll have a funny story to tell later!
Would you post your reference for this as well as the State? In my area people have been sentenced to fines and 30 days and it hasn't turned into a funny story.
Always glad to learn if it's different in another area. I don't know what OP is referencing when he quotes his statistics/facts but perhaps his urinating was not witnessed by a child.
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 01:29 PM
once again i have no idea why people post when they think they already know the answer. My suggestion - you know how it works. Go to court without an attorney and give the judge your statistics.
Come back and let us know what happens so "we" can inform the next person.
Meanwhile - i stand by my advice.
Oh, and in the future, keep it in your pants when you're in public. I don't want myself or my children walking through your urine.
Shut up and don't read it then!
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 01:31 PM
It can really go a number of ways, but its not a major crime. If you write a decent apology the judge might just say dont do it again. You might just have to do community service... this really won't affect you in the future too much, as in it wont prevent you from getting jobs or anything like that... just try to relax, it will all blow over. And then you'll have a funny story to tell later!
Thanks I like your advice the best.. I have been worried about it for a while and I think that is just what I have to do!
Thanks
chiquitavallejo
Dec 17, 2008, 01:35 PM
Thanks I like your advice the best.. I have been worried about it for a while and I think that is just what I have to do!
Thanks
Noo problem. I'm basing my info off the fact that I know several people who got in trouble for drug-related issues, which I think is a lottt worse than peeing in public. Maybe it's the liberal Massachusetts that I'm from, but the courts let my friends off the hook with a fine and community service -- no big deal. I hope it all goes well for you!
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 01:38 PM
Noo problem. I'm basing my info off the fact that I know several people who got in trouble for drug-related issues, which I think is a lottt worse than peeing in public. Maybe its the liberal Massachusetts that I'm from, but the courts let my friends off the hook with a fine and community service -- no big deal. I hope it all goes well for you!
Yeah I know that is how it is in Ohio. My friend got Disorderly Conduct and got community service and a fine and I know a lot of people that have gotten underages and things like that and have gotten the same thing. I am hoping for the best since I have never been in trouble in my life I am hoping that will work for me!:)
twinkiedooter
Dec 17, 2008, 01:38 PM
It can really go a number of ways, but its not a major crime. If you write a decent apology the judge might just say dont do it again. You might just have to do community service... this really won't affect you in the future too much, as in it wont prevent you from getting jobs or anything like that... just try to relax, it will all blow over. And then you'll have a funny story to tell later!
I, for one, don't think that this will prove to be a "funny story" ending. Writing a letter of apology to the Judge - what planet are you on to think this will work? Don't think so. Sorry.
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 01:40 PM
shut up and dont read it then!
I suspect that public urination/indecent exposure are the least of your problems.
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 01:44 PM
I suspect that public urination/indecent exposure are the least of your problems.
Me too I have bigger things to worry about in the world then things like this!
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 01:45 PM
I, for one, don't think that this will prove to be a "funny story" ending. Writing a letter of apology to the Judge - what planet are you on to think this will work? Don't think so. Sorry.
Why are you telling me that this is the worst thing in the world that someone can do! Come on there are killers out there and be people who drink and drive come on now people
JudyKayTee
Dec 17, 2008, 02:23 PM
Why are you telling me that this is the worst thing in the world that someone can do! Come on there are killers out there and be ppl who drink and drive come on now ppl
This isn't a message board. Please don't ask for legal information and then argue with every post you don't like and agree with every one you do like.
It's also not a text message board so please use proper English.
As I said - you appear to already know the answer so take your research to Court, don't bother with an Attorney and come back and prove us all wrong.
njroll
Dec 17, 2008, 02:24 PM
This isn't a mesage board. Please don't ask for legal information and then argue with every post you don't like and agree with every one you do like.
It's also not a text message board so please use proper English.
As I said - you appear to already know the answer so take your research to Court, don't bother with an Attorney and come back and prove us all wrong.
How am I proving you wrong you are the one that said I would get a fine! Umm Better read your answers that you gave.. I'm done thanks for the advice!
chiquitavallejo
Dec 17, 2008, 02:30 PM
Why are you telling me that this is the worst thing in the world that someone can do! Come on there are killers out there and be ppl who drink and drive come on now ppl
Several people I know have written letters to judges explaining what happened, why it happened, how it was a mistake and it will not happen again and it has not happened before. Judges are people, its worth a shot. It can't do any harm
Fr_Chuck
Dec 17, 2008, 03:16 PM
Actually judges are not suppose to communicate with you about the case before the trial, In fact attempted communication with the judge, without going though your attorney can be considered impropper if not illegal.
You can explain your case in court, but understand, this charge is being taken very very seriously in some cases.
excon
Dec 17, 2008, 03:18 PM
several people i know have... Hello chiquita:
This isn't the "several people I know did such and such, advice board". This is a LEGAL board where people want REAL help with REAL life problems. Rumor and innuendo ISN'T legal advice. Advice, where you know NOTHING, HURTS people in trouble. It doesn't HELP them.
excon
JudyKayTee
Dec 18, 2008, 05:08 AM
several people i know have written letters to judges explaining what happened, why it happened, how it was a mistake and it will not happen again and it has not happened before. judges are people, its worth a shot. it can't do any harm
This is bad legal advice - very bad legal advice. I know you've posted your experiences before and they are all contrary to the law as I know it.
And, yes, writing the Judge can cause a great deal of harm.