SPENDING a penny could soon lead to a £500 fine.
A council committee last night recommended that a bylaw be introduced, overturning the 100-year-old rule which limits the maximum penalty for urinating in public in the City of York to £2.
The move is mainly aimed at cracking down on drunken behaviour in the Micklegate area of York.
Police have been prosecuting anyone caught urinating or defecating in public over the last year, but have been frustrated by the tiny maximum penalty.
In a letter to the council, Det Chief Insp John Lacy, of York Police, said that CCTV picks up about 30 offences of urinating in the city centre every weekend.
"We are determined to take pro-active action to tackle persistent incidents of alcohol-related disorder. The zero-tolerance stance announced by the Divisional Commander, Supt Jim Kilmartin is somewhat thwarted by the inadequacy of the maximum penalty for urinating in a public place."
The letter suggests the introduction of a £500 fine and a high profile publicity campaign.
Members of the Environmental Services Committee supported the police's stance.
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