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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU - Weeing in lay-bys is anti social and fines should apply

284 replies

Thriftnugget · 17/03/2024 08:27

Item in the news- Dacorum Borough Council have stopped issuing fines for wild wees in lay-bys.
I know that this is on a technicality (anti littering law used and wild wees not classed as litter) but I think people weeing in lay-bys is appalling. It should be subject to fines. I can forgive toddlers/ young children but not adults. There are solutions for those with medical conditions that mean urgent wees are a symptom. And it’s always men. Women need urgent wees too (possibly more so, pregnancy etc) and we don’t pull up in lay-bys and squat in front of passing traffic. AIBU?

OP posts:
Magnastorm · 17/03/2024 09:06

Meh. Who cares, it's just wee. Doesn't hurt anyone or anything.

Cornettoninja · 17/03/2024 09:05

I don’t think I’ve ever had cause to pull up in a lay-by? Even when with a baby dd… tell a lie, dd was desperate when she was about 5/6 so we pulled up and climbed a fence to find a tree for her to squat behind. Dunno what the fence was for but we were probably trespassing.

more widely though, I don’t really have an issue, there are plenty of very long a roads with no where to to pull off and find a garage or something. There are absolutely medical issues that make holding it harder but even in the completely healthy, sometimes you really have to go.

IamnotSethRogan · 17/03/2024 09:04

I am a women and I pull into lay bys to pee. I've always had a pretty weak bladder and it can be a nightmare on long journeys. I don't think it should be illegal but I do think people should practice some discretion. I wouldn't just squat by the side of the road I'd hide behind a bush.

gould · 17/03/2024 09:03

We have bigger issues, fly-tipping in laybys for one.

shellyleppard · 17/03/2024 09:01

Op its not always matter of being lazy......my dad had bladder cancer (now recovered) but sometimes he has to go urgently. He always tries to find a discreet spot.....but not everyone having a wild pee is a lazy person

mitogoshi · 17/03/2024 09:01

If you must be discreet is what we are saying, behind bushes onto undergrowth not onto tarmac in full view of passers by

Original poster
Thriftnugget · 17/03/2024 08:59

@VladsPants upset is overstating it but it’s pretty gross to pull up in a lay-by that stinks like a massive urinal. (Have experienced that). @PanadTe you are right, we are massively behind in this way.
I do have the utmost respect for people with a medical reason for urgency…, been there to a degree and so did my late father.
I bet most people who do “invest” in a solution and aren’t the ones blatantly pissing in front of the passing traffic and making lay-bys stink.

OP posts:
Waffleson · 17/03/2024 08:59

I can't get wound up about someone having a discrete discreet wee. What I do find strange is that noone minds dogs pissing all over the place but when humans do it it's suddenly terrible.

mitogoshi · 17/03/2024 08:59

I'm with you op, and on motorways there's loads of services so can't see the problem with stopping at them. Modern tech means it's easier than ever to locate somewhere to stop. That said when caught in a 3 hour traffic jam on the m25 a few years back it was hilarious for my DD's and I seeing the line of men along the hard shoulder edge weeing, a lesson in men being pathetic we thought as we hung on until whatever was the cause was finally sorted out and we eventually made fleet services on the m3. I wouldn't let (now ex) h out the car saying if we had to wait so did heGrin

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 17/03/2024 08:58

I'd also say as a dog walker I've done many a wild wee over the years Grin

LostMySocks · 17/03/2024 08:57

I've stopped in numerous laybys, particularly in summer, to stretch my legs or swap drivers or to sort the kids. It's really unpleasant when the layby sticks of stale urine.
Yes it seems draconian to find people but on busy roads it's not just one person (usually a man) it's a lot.

DonnaBanana · 17/03/2024 08:57

It’s always men because we are sensible enough to hide somewhere in a bush or down an alley to do our business. They can just whip their willy out wherever and with most men it’s too small to see as people whiz past

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 17/03/2024 08:57

Meh, I've done it loads of times. Lots of rural driving with no access to public toilets.

I don't see the harm in it personally 🤷‍♀️

cerebuswannabe · 17/03/2024 08:57

Sometimes there isn't a service station for miles and when you need to go you need to go. There are worse things to complain about than ppl weeing at the side of the road! It's Sunday morning for gods sake!

Goldfinchtriad · 17/03/2024 08:57

As long as people are discreet I have no issues with a much needed wild wee. More toilets would be a much better solution I agree but with councils going bust I can’t see public amenities improving anytime soon

Terrribletwos · 17/03/2024 08:56

I would rather the incredible amount of litter on our highways and byways was dealt with, it's a far bigger and more unsightly problem.

Bulkypeepants · 17/03/2024 08:56

Yep, it is always men. I've peed outside before, but not in view of the public. Don't know why men feel so entitled that they think it's acceptable for everyone else to have to watch them empty their bladder. YANBU.

ShiteRider · 17/03/2024 08:56

When I’m out walking I will wee in the bushes. I make DH keep guard though.

PanadTe · 17/03/2024 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I agree with you, but you have lost all respect for calling another woman a Karen

Oblomov24 · 17/03/2024 08:56

Appalling? I don't see it as such at all. Dh had an operation when very young and has needed to go urgently with little warning. If a male does stop anywhere, you could see nothing because it's discreet and no body parts can be seen. So which bit is disgusting?

rocksavage · 17/03/2024 08:55

I'm far, far more bothered about people leaving litter everywhere than seeing someone urinating. I'd rather they weed al fresco than pissed in a bottle and chucked it out of the window. Really can't get too wound up about seeing people pissing miles from a public loo.

PanadTe · 17/03/2024 08:55

Saisong · 17/03/2024 08:53

Judging by the state of the verges everywhere they can't even stop people littering, let alone have the wherewithal to deal with the odd cheeky wee.

I agree it's a pretty disgusting practice, but I just don't think there is the will or cash to deal with it.

The littering is a bigger issue. People are nobheads.

It rains so much in this country that pee is not an issue.

5thCommandment · 17/03/2024 08:54

This reply has been deleted

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Saisong · 17/03/2024 08:53

Judging by the state of the verges everywhere they can't even stop people littering, let alone have the wherewithal to deal with the odd cheeky wee.

I agree it's a pretty disgusting practice, but I just don't think there is the will or cash to deal with it.

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/03/2024 08:52

Even if people used a she wee I doubt they’re going to carry a bottle of piss all day with them. People would be annoyed if someone was trundling round a shop with piss tucked under their arm.