Pittsburgh approves public urination, defecation law

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh City Council has passed an ordinance specifically banning public urination and defecation because they say other laws used to cite offenders sometimes don’t hold up in court.

The measure approved Tuesday carries a $500 fine for anyone who relieves themselves on public streets, private property or city parks.

Councilman Bruce Kraus says the measure was needed because police tend to cite people who relieve themselves in public for either disorderly conduct or open lewdness. Often, the disorderly conduct citations don’t stand up in court and Kraus says judges are reluctant to convict people on the lewdness charge because it is a sex offense.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl must still sign the bill for it to take effect.