Rye police may soon be able to issue tickets instead of making arrests for public urination and defecation, after the City Council unanimously approved a move to hold a public hearing on the proposed change.
Currently, officers must arrest offenders, take them into custody, process paperwork at the station, and then release them – a process that can take two hours minimum, according to Rye Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kopy. The proposed ordinance would allow officers to issue a ticket on the spot, freeing them to return to patrol more quickly.
“One of my goals here is to try to streamline the operations of the department so that we can have the officer on the road as many hours a day,” he said.
With only three officers sometimes on patrol, Kopy said removing one for even two hours can take away 25 percent of their shift.
The commissioner added that the issue is not widespread but happens often enough to draw complaints, particularly during major holidays and busy summer weekends. He said most of the offenses are public urination, as only one defecation incident has been documented in the last 18 months.
Last Thanksgiving eve, a night where young people traditionally gather to drink at various city establishments, the department issued three tickets for public urination offenses, as well as multiple warnings. The department is advocating for this measure in preparation for pre-Thanksgiving festivities next month, Kopy said.
The change would not prevent officers from making arrests when necessary, such as when someone is intoxicated or disorderly, but it would give them “another tool in the toolbox,” Kopy said.
“At times, people just make a mistake,” he said. “Maybe bringing them directly into court, when a city code summons can be adjudicated in a more informal fashion, especially when we have younger adults that engage in this behavior, is probably a simpler way to do it.”
Kopy said the department is working with local establishments that sell alcohol to gear up for Thanksgiving eve and create a safe environment for all patrons.
And even though the new proposal outlines a softer stance on public urination and defecation, if an individual fails to respond to a ticket, the city could upgrade the charge and issue a warrant requiring them to appear before a judge.
Councilmember and mayoral candidate Josh Nathan said the measure provides a fairer way to handle minor offenses.
“You have some young people who make mistakes, and this is an opportunity to address the error without creating an arrest record,” he said.
City officials have not yet scheduled a public hearing on the proposal, but said it would take place at an upcoming City Council meeting.
