Pissing in public

So this blog is quite simple. Pissing in public and how here it is not considered inappropriate or illegal in fact, and the ways in the US we have made it a criminal act. If nature calls, you pull off the road or go to the side of the bush path and simply relieve yourself. Mostly men, but I have seen my fair share of women who find a hiding spot when need be. I can't say I'm super comfortable with this, but I understand that there are worse things and I have found myself in the same situation many times when a toilet is simply not available. While in the US these people could be cited for public urination or even worse indecent exposure if a cop in a bad mood finds you. In 13 states in the US a public urination ticket can warrant a listing as a sex offender on the state wide sex offender list (The Economist, Unjust and ineffective America has pioneered the harsh punishment of sex offenders. Does it work? August 6, 2009). While I do understand people who may live next to bars do not appreciate people pissing in the open or maybe even on objects making the ally way smell like a sewer, but I think we have all found ourselves in the situation where a restroom is not easily available and using a dark corner maybe the only option. Does this simple act of nature have to be made illegal, or can this be handled by people telling each other that they don’t appreciate it? If anything get a damn big light and shine it in the problem area. I bet our cultural norms will take control and you won’t find many people pissing there any longer. Just thought it was interesting a simple thing that we let our dogs do all over (does their urine smell any better than ours?) can really hurt someone’s future in the US if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and even worse in the wrong state. Should we not just take a bit more of a laid back stance on this and just let cultural norms rule versus the strict hand of the law?