Is public urination also an indecent exposure charge?

Public urination can result not only to an indecent exposure charge, but it can also cause you to be charged with littering, public nuisance or disorderly conduct violation as well, depending on your jurisdiction’s laws. Public urination is a crime and it is accompanied by criminal penalties.

In most states, public urination falls under the disorderly conduct statute. Disorderly conduct refers to anything done in public places that can be described as profane, violent, abusive, disturbing and indecent. However, in some (if not most) states, if the incident was caused by age, a medical condition or a disability, the person is exempt from being charged.

Public urination is considered as a misdemeanor, and a misdemeanor penalty consists of jail time of less than one year, a criminal record, community service and a fine. For public urination specifically, apart from those mentioned, other penalties include probation, and limitations on employment, higher education and even some kinds of licenses.