Rolla council adopts ordinance banning public urination and defecation after police explain enforcement limits

The Rolla City Council on final reading adopted an ordinance adding a new section to Chapter 30 of the city code to prohibit public urination and defecation.

Police Chief (name not specified in the record) told the council the city lacked an ordinance that specifically addresses public urination and defecation and that the new ordinance provides officers a citation tool short of charging "indecent exposure," which can trigger sex‑offender registration. "We do not have an ordinance against this violation, and we found ourselves in need of one," the chief said. He added, "let's use some common sense here... we're not gonna be arresting children who have to go and there's no place for them to go. This is for adults who... come out of a bar... and relieve themselves against the building."

The chief described enforcement practice under the new ordinance: officers will issue a ticket and the courts will determine fines; repeat offenders can face jail at the judge's discretion. He also said eyewitnesses and recordings (for example, a citizen video captured on a phone) can support identification for a citation. "If somebody is willing to go to court for it... we will find [the person] and give him a ticket," he said. The chief explained that prosecuting under indecent exposure often is not upheld by courts for this conduct and carries long‑term registration requirements that the city does not seek to impose for ordinary public urination.

Why it matters: the ordinance creates a misdemeanor ticketing offense that staff said will give police a proportional tool to address complaints about public defecation and urination, for example outside of bars or in public downtown areas, without elevating every incident to indecent‑exposure charges that carry sex‑offender consequences.

The ordinance was read on final reading and carried by roll call vote. The city clerk recorded votes in the transcript; the mayor then announced, "Ordinance is approved."

Background and next steps: the ordinance amends the Rolla code by adding section 30‑409 (prohibition of public urination or defecation). Staff said the courts assess fines; city prosecutors will determine whether to pursue charges based on witness evidence and file availability. The police chief said the city will not routinely arrest people for a single incident but will issue citations and rely on the court process for penalties and repeat‑offender enforcement.

Sources and evidence: staff presentation and council roll call recorded in the council meeting transcript.