Public Urination Civil Citation

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Maryland

I recently received a Civil Citation for public urination (5-503) in the Baltimore City. My two options are to pay the fine or stand trial, and I intend to pay the fine. However, the police officer did not write down the amount for the fine on the citation so I do not know what I owe. I have called the department that issued the citation, but the officer on the other line was unhelpful and would not input my citation number to confirm what I owe and simply stated that public urination is $500. I believe that $500 is the fine for the criminal, not civil charge, and the billing office said the officer had not yet submitted the citation.

In this "Civil Citations Digest" (https://www.baltimorecity.gov/Portal...%20CvlCtns.pdf) it states the fine is $150, "§ 5-503. Urinating, etc. – In general $150".

However, in this version (http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil...ments/6110.pdf it is much less clear and states "§ 5-503. Urinating, etc. - in general [$150] xxx $500" (Note: I inserted x's where it had $750 with a line through it). I also did not see a legend stating what the brackets were for around the 150.


If anyone could help clarify what the fine should be and what my best option is I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

If you really do intend on paying it, here's a simple solution.

Go to the courthouse far in advance of your court date, go up to the window, hand over the citation, say "I want to pay this. How much is it?"

The clerk will tell you how much.

If you don't have that much money with you, tell the clerk you'll be back with the money.

Just make sure you go back with the money well in advance of your court date.

Oh, couple of things.

Make a copy of the citation for your records.

Get a receipt for your payment.

Save both, forever.