Public urination is not a criminal offense in Indianapolis, Indiana. However, if an officer arrests someone for being naked in public after observing them urinating in public, and no one has actually seen their genitals, the evidence is insufficient to dictate a conviction. In Indiana, public indecency charges include participating in sexual activity, the appearance of nudity, and the exposure of genitals in a public space. Additionally, appearing naked in front of a child under 16 years of age is a crime. For a first-time offense, public indecency is considered a Class A misdemeanor.
For repeat offenders, whether the previous conviction was in Indiana or another state, this is a Level 6 felony. Public intoxication is also a criminal offense in Indiana. The law defines public intoxication as being in a public place while intoxicated to the point of endangering yourself or another person. The penalties for public intoxication depend on whether this is your first offense or whether you have been convicted of that offense before. In the case of public nudity, the offender must have intentionally appeared in public with private parts exposed.
Urinating in public consists of doing their business in an area open to the public. In states where public urination is considered a minor violation of public order or public obscenity, offenders face being convicted of a misdemeanor. If someone commits an act of public indecency in an area that is not public but private, the law considers it indecent exposure. The offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor if the exposure occurs at a school, park, or Indiana Department of Natural Resources property. On Monday night, Carmel City Council unanimously approved new fines for urinating and defecating in public in response to a series of complaints about a new tavern in the city center. It has been fifty years since that famous incident and indecent exposure is still considered a crime in Indiana and across the country.
If you have been charged with public intoxication or indecent exposure in Indiana, it is important to contact an experienced Indianapolis criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Lewis call 317-636-7514 to schedule a free initial consultation with an aggressive Indiana criminal lawyer who will stop at nothing to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms when facing charges of disturbing public order.
