Hermosa Beach, Urinating Behind Bank, $150 Fine, 10 AA's

Our client worked for a local defense contractor as an engineer. He worked long hours and rarely was able to enjoy the local bars and restaurants. He longed for those days in college when he could let off some steam and relax watching a football game with a beer or two. He was 22, so the adjustment to the “real world” was taking place.

Summary: Client ticketed for violating Penal Code § 372 (misdemeanor) in Hermosa Beach, found urinating behind bank in downtown area, case resolved for infraction and $150 Fine, 10 AA meetings.

As luck would have it, the 2014 World Cup Soccer Tournament began just as he was feeling the need to relax as if still in college. The nostalgic yearning led him to gather together a few friends for an evening of watching international soccer at a Hermosa Beach bar, which they did, with a few beers.
As his luck would have it, an undercover police officer on foot was patrolling nearby, pretending to be engaged in a cell phone conversation. Our client thought nothing of it. After all, police officers are supposed to wear uniforms, right? Our client had to go and the person on the cell phone was a man, so our client figured he would not be offending a female. Perhaps the man on the cell phone would not even notice our client, as the man seemed engrossed in conversation.

After our client finished relieving himself, the police officer approached him and identified himself. He then asked for our client’s identification. The officer asked him if he knew what he just did was illegal. Our client apologized and said he knew it was illegal. The police officer then filled out and handed our client a citation for violating Penal Code § 372 (“Public Nuisance”), a misdemeanor. He asked our client to sign a promise to appear on the ticket in the Torrance Superior Court in about six weeks.

The client was in utter shock. He quickly foresaw himself losing his job that he had worked so hard for through college. His employer had made it very clear that no employee should be arrested or face criminal charges (and risk jail time) although the employer did say an infraction, such as for a parking ticket, was not grounds for termination.

Torrance Courthouse

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