Tiny Lake Erie resort village in Ohio logs $5,200 in public urination fines from 32 suspects
9/16/2013PUT-IN-BAY — The tiny Lake Erie island resort community of Put-In-Bay in northern Ohio has landed at least $5,280 in summertime fines from people cited for public urination.
The trendy community located off Sandusky imposes fines up to $150 for public urination, plus an $85 court fee.
According to an analysis of police reports by the Sandusky Register, 30 men and two women were arrested for public urination this summer.
Police spokesman Don Dress says many violators receive only warnings, not citations. The decision is up to the officers’ discretion.
Officials say Put-In-Bay has numerous public restrooms, including a bathhouse at a lakefront park where most public urination arrests occurred.
One man offered the arresting officer this explanation: “When you have to go, you have to go.”