"Urinated on My Car Twice": Drunk Man Avoids Charges Despite Police Report

A drunk individual who urinated twice on a vehicle parked in an apartment complex after failing to find a restroom has avoided criminal punishment, as police determined the act did not constitute property damage.
According to the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station on Wednesday (June 17), a man in his 50s, identified as A, entered the parking lot of an apartment complex in Buk-gu, Gwangju, while intoxicated at 12:00 a.m. on June 4.
After wandering around for about 300 meters, A headed into the relatively secluded parking area and urinated toward the driver's side door of a parked car.
About two hours later, A returned to the parking lot, urinated on the same vehicle once more, and left the scene.
The car owner, who discovered traces of urine on the vehicle, reported the incident to the police that same day, alleging property damage. The police identified A through CCTV footage and launched an investigation.
However, after a six-day investigation, the police decided not to book A and closed the case.
They determined that the act of urinating did not constitute property damage under the Criminal Act, which requires the impairment of an object's function or utility.
The police also took into account that the vehicle could be restored to its original state through cleaning and that precedents for similar cases do not typically view such acts as an infringement of utility.
During police questioning, A reportedly stated, "I had an urgent need to urinate and could not hold it, and I had no intention of damaging the property (the vehicle)."
A police official stated, "After reviewing relevant precedents and legal principles, we determined that it is difficult to apply charges of property damage," adding, "However, we plan to review whether the act of urinating in a parking lot used by the general public constitutes public urination under the Minor Offenses Act."
(Photo: Provided by Gwangju Police, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.