Elderly man fined CHF 100 for urinating in bushes

Not long ago an elderly man was fined CHF 100 on the spot for urinating in the bushes prior to getting in his car after a walk in the Reussspitz Nature Reserve.
 
Naturally, it was embarrassing enough to be seen relieving oneself in this way but in the case of this elderly man it was worse as he was spotted by two policemen who duly fined him. But was this not going a bit too far?
 
Since the enactment of a new cantonal law in October 2013, not using a proper facility for urinating is one of the offences in what is commonly termed the "anti-littering law". This means that police can fine people who are seen to drop litter or even the stub of cigarette on the spot. In fact other officials, such as foresters, game wardens and fishery inspectors, can also impose the fines. Indeed there as many as 60 offences covered by the law, and urinating in a place not deemed appropriate place is one of them.
 
When police spokesman Marcel Schlatter was asked about this matter, he quoted the law to the letter, though, in the case of urination, it said it was not allowed (in the open) in a residential area. However bushes near the car-park at the Reussspitz Nature Reserve could hardly be regarded as a residential area. Schlatter said he could not comment on this individual case as the procedure relating to on-the-spot fines is anonymous and no personal details are kept.
 
When Marcel Hähni, who often takes parties of elderly people on walks in the countryside, was told about the matter, he said that common sense should have prevailed. "You cannot compare the case of an elderly man needing to relieve himself after a walk in the country with a group of drunken youths relieving themselves on a city street. If this law were imposed strictly, no walks for the elderly could be organised any more. Anyway, what about when dogs urinate?"
 
In another recent case of an on-the-spot fine, an 18-year-old woman from Zug was also fined CHF 100 by police officers in plain clothes for playing music from a music-box near the government buildings in the city at midnight with nine other young people. She was not happy about out it but resignedly said, "Well, it only worked out at ten francs each."
 
Schlatter added that anyone fined in such ways has 30 days in which to object.
 
The photograph is for illustrative purposes only.