Scottish Chief Councillor Jackie Burns, who was in favor of shutting down public restrooms earlier this year, was fined after a police officer caught him peeing in the street Saturday morning.
Burns jumped out of his taxi in South Lanarkshire to relieve himself, when a police officer stopped him in the act. Earlier this year, Burns announced that his town would close all public restrooms after Scotland’s government was forced to make a £22 million ($33 million) spending cutback.
Although Burns previously thought that closing public toilets was necessary, he learned the hard way that there’s no way to put the call of nature on hold. Burns has accepted his fine and publicly apologized.
“I was approached by police, who gave me a £40 fine which I have duly paid. I am embarrassed by the incident and have apologized,” said Burns when asked about his public urination.
Burns and the rest of the Scottish government are learning first hand that removing public toilets does not stop people from doing their business. Hopefully, Scottish officials and pedestrians will find a way to relieve themselves in private before the streets of South Lanarkshire start to resemble San Francisco.
Featured image via BuzzFeed
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