This past week, Weyburn Police Service charged two individuals with public urination. The cases were completely separate and unrelated, but both occurred during the daytime and involved alcohol consumption.

“Weyburn has a provision in one of its bylaws that specifically deals with urinating in public for a couple of obvious reasons,” said Deputy Chief Rod Stafford. “Number one, it creates a bit of a public health hazard, and number two, it’s unsightly and borders on criminal exposure I suppose depending on when and where it’s done.”

Both incidences resulted in the individuals being fined under the city bylaw.

“Of course, having to go when you have to go, and not having the desire or the ease of access to public washroom depending where they were. This is what happened, but in both cases charges were laid and they’ll deal with that through fines in the court system.”

Stafford says there are understandable situations wherein charges might not be laid for urinating in public.

“I’m not suggesting that you should ever be in a position where you have to do that in a public setting, but if you do, at least try and be discreet about it,” he said. “If the officers get called, perhaps if there’s a really decent explanation, and you’re being as discreet as you can, there may be some discretion exercised, but in these two cases, it was very blatant and open, no room for discretion.”