Is peeing in the sea a crime? The court in Lübeck, Germany, now had to hear such a case. Now the verdict has been delivered – and the reasoning makes you smile.
A verdict with “radiation”, several German media outlets reported from the trial on Tuesday. What happened? In the summer of 2022, a patrol from the local public order office caught a man defecating in the Baltic Sea under cover of darkness – at the flowing edge of the sea (i.e. where the sea washes the deposits ashore) and with his back to the beach – about 20 meters away from his friends.
The result: a fine of 60 euros for “nuisance to the public and grossly inappropriate behavior”. However, the person urinating in public did not want that to happen, he did not pay the fine and went to court.
Man probably ‘only vaguely visible’
In Lübeck, a judge took up the case – and with a pronounced love for details. According to the verdict, the man was only vaguely visible in the darkness. No one felt harassed either. At the seaside, unlike in the mountains or at the edge of the forest, there is no other option for retreat than to turn your back on possible spectators.
‘Social urination’ would also take place at ‘continuous urinals’. The court states that the process is generally ‘not shameful’ in society. “Outside public settings” it is common to “avoid the gaze of others, or at least turn away and behave discreetly,” depending on the environment.
“No less rights than the deer in the forest”
The court also rejects any pollution or odor nuisance. “The Baltic Sea contains a volume of 21,631 cubic kilometers of brackish water.” Moreover, no one has filed a complaint with public order. And the employees initially let the matter “take its course” until the man got dressed again and turned to them.
The verdict ends almost poetically: ‘Under the vastness of the sky, man has no fewer rights than the deer in the forest, the hare in the field or the seal in the sea of the Baltic Sea.’ The man was thus acquitted. and the penalty no longer applies.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
