Public Peeing

 

I don’t know anyone who this ever happened to; sort of a worst-case scenario you could be charged with indecent exposure under ARS:

§13-1402. Indecent exposure; exception; classification

A. A person commits indecent exposure if he or she exposes his or her genitals or anus or she exposes the areola or nipple of her breast or breasts and another person is present, and the defendant is reckless about whether the other person, as a reasonable person, would be offended or alarmed by the act.

B. Indecent exposure does not include an act of breast-feeding by a mother.

C. Indecent exposure to a person who is fifteen or more years of age is a class 1 misdemeanor. Indecent exposure to a person who is under fifteen years of age is a class 6 felony.

And supposing you were convicted, you would have to register as a sex offender (but only after at least 2 repeated incidents):

§13-3821. Persons required to register; procedure; identification card; definitions

A. A person who has been convicted of a violation or attempted violation of any of the following offenses… shall register with the sheriff of that county:

15. A second or subsequent violation of indecent exposure to a person under fifteen years of age pursuant to section 13-1402.

17. A third or subsequent violation of indecent exposure pursuant to section 13-1402.

Local Laws

I supposed a far more likely scenario is some sort of local law, for example in the City of Phoenix [see municode.com], under Article III “Offenses against Public Health” we find:

Sec. 23-48. Prohibited Public Activities

It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate upon any of the public sidewalks or crosswalks in the City or upon any public path, by-way or highway, or upon the floor or interior of any bus or other public conveyance, or in or on any public place or park which is easily visible or readily accessible from a public thoroughfare or public conveyance, except where suitable facilities are provided therefor. (Ord. No. G-2239, § 2)

Presumably every city has a similar ordinance. There are many weasel words, if someone is off peeing in the bushes: is it “easily visible”? is it “readily accessible”?


Meanwhile, some threatened public nudity in the news from, of course, Tucson.

 

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