Why didn't you just take a pee by the side of the road?

Believe it or not, in some parts of the USA that can get you labeled a sex offender for life.

Realistically nobody is gonna give a crap unless you manage to be super distasteful about it.

Or you are disfavored for other reasons, such as race.

Tell it to the judge, creep.

Wow, didn't know that! In the UK and most of Europe it's standard practice.

It's also relatively standard practice in the US. Of course it's illegal "by the books" just like in France and some parts of the UK. At worst you'd probably get a fine if you get caught in a densely populated urban environment without a good reason.

It's incredibly misleading to say that peeing on the side of the road in an emergency could put you on the sex offenders' registry.

I'd be interested in an example of someone getting on the registry for public peeing without egregious extenuating circumstances (repeated offence next to a daycare, or something)

Not exactly an "example" but apparently 13 states have laws on the books specifically requiring registration if you are caught urinating in public. Some stipulate "repeat offenses", some stipulate "in view of a child" (The Horror!!), but most do neither [1].

1. https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/09/11/no-easy-answers/sex-of...

The same applies in the UK, but like the US you’re unlikely to get arrested unless you’re doing something more than peeing behind a bush.

There doesn't appear to be any general law specifically restricting public urination in the UK.

There are local bylaws.

And there are more serious laws for sexual behaviour etc.

This is a myth

As ridiculous as it is, this is not a myth; It varies by state whether it's required.

> At least 13 states require registration for public urination; of those, two limit registration to those who committed the act in view of a minor;

https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/09/11/no-easy-answers/sex-of...

Now, it's probably unlikely (considering a normal person is also not generally trying to be purposely seen), but not out of the realm of possibility.

In the foot notes it lists CA as one of these 13 states. But in CA "the law requires the prosecution be able to prove you willingly exposed yourself in public with the intent to bring attention to your genitals for the sexual motivation of yourself or another person. In other words, unless you were actively trying to get someone to look at your genitals while you relieved yourself in order to arouse yourself or someone else, you are not guilty of this offense."

https://vistacriminallaw.com/public-urination-laws-and-sex-o...

I was considering it (very lucky the traffic cleared), but it was a major highway at midnight that was closed due to flooding ahead, and emergency vehicles were speeding down the shoulder fairly frequently. I didn’t consider it safe for me to leave the vehicle.

In my experience, men will piss anywhere/on anything/in front of anybody. Women not so much.

Never heard of these before, after skimming amazon reviews on a few products, looks like most folks like "Travel John" and "OUMEE" brand the best. Seems useful!

Yes, Travel John is what’s in my glove box.