Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

Publicly Urinating

I was arrested last night in the city of Ithaca NY for public urination in a dark alley. I immediately posted bail, had my picture taken by the police and was then given an appearance ticket stating that the charge is a mere violation.

a) If I can not make my apperance date, should I go to court early and plead guilty and pay a fine?

b) Do I now have a criminal record as a result of this?


Asked on 5/03/08, 7:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Colleluori The Law Offices of Anthony J. Colleluori & Associates PLLC

Re: Publicly Urinating

Go to the courthouse and speak to a legal aid attorney or a public defender and make sure the case is only a violation and not a misdemeanor.

If you plead guilty to a violation, you cannot deny the arrest if you are asked and chose to answer such a question on an application, but you can answer truthfully that you have not been convicted of a crime. With that said, while you are at the courthouse I would see if I could postpone the courtdate. It is very possible the prosecutor may offer you an ACOD which will render the arrest a nullity and you may deny the arrest issue as long as you are not filling out an application for a law enforcement job. Just remember you want to get that same information from a lawyer so that if you do deny the arrest and are called on it, you have something more official that a Law Guru Response.

Good Luck.

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Answered on 5/03/08, 10:50 pm


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