Drivers in the UK are being warned of a common traffic jam habit which could lead to an unlimited fine or even prison. The simple move could be seen as harmless but doing it could actually get you in trouble. According to Ripe Caravan Insurance , many drivers have admitted to making the mistake.
In a survey of 1,000 British drivers, five per cent - or one in 20 – said they have urinated at the side of a road on a long journey or while stuck in a queue. But you could be prosecuted for taking an emergency toilet break in a layby or other visible roadside spot. UK law does not define public urination as illegal but doing so can put you at risk of committing public order offences or flouting byelaws laid out by authorities under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972.
READ MORE: Met Office issues urgent 22-hour weather warning - full list of areas affected Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here . If you are caught urinating in a public place, you could receive an on-the-spot Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. These are a type of fixed penalty notice used by police for low-level, anti-social and nuisance offences in England and Wales.
They will lead to penalties of £60 or £90 and you have 21 days to pay the amount due. PNDs can also cover things like littering or being drunk and disorderly. But urinating at the roadside could also lead to prosecution under the common l.