Myth about Oklahoma's sex offender registry

OK, for argument sake lets accept that "Peeing in the public is not a registrable offense," IN OKLAHOMA, but what about other states? As we so often see the police fail to explain ALL THE FACTS; in other states such is a registrable offense. So, if someone in Oklahoma is looking at the National Registry, how would they know which states make such a registrable offense?

3-30-2012 Oklahoma:

Sexually dangerous offenders are among the 348 registered sex offenders in Tulsa. However, you won’t see people caught urinating in public on the registry.

In an exclusive story, FOX23 reported on Wednesday, sex offenders with warrants were arrested and sent to jail.

FOX23 viewers commented on the story believing urinating in public is a registerable crime but Tulsa police say it’s not.

Exposure is when someone like a man who FOX23 News reported in March 2011, who knew he was on camera and touched himself in a Sonic drive-thru.

He pleaded no contest but it’s a crime on the sex offender registry.

However, Tulsa Police Department Exploitation/Sex Offender Registry sergeant John Adams says what you won’t find on the registry are people who urinate in public.

"As long you were not seeking sexual gratification out of it by exposing yourself,” said Adams.

Urinating in public is considered Outraging Public Decency, a misdemeanor crime and not a registerable offense.

"Peeing is one thing, exposing is another thing,” said Adams.

Police say not one of the 348 registered sex offenders in Tulsa are on the registry for urinating in public.

"We don't have anyone come in and say I was peeing and had to do it,” said Adams.

Facebook viewers commented about the issue on FOX23’s Abbie Alford’s page.

Todd received four likes on his comment, “Maybe they should make sure the sex offenders are not somebody who got drunk and peed in public too close to a police officer.”

Sergeant Adams said it’s a fallacy and a scapegoat.

"When that person out there says, ‘well my uncle's cousin's brother said he was on it for peeing in public.’ He's lying. He was masturbating and doing some other sex act in public and he just doesn't want to say that to you,” said Adams.

Now if a man or a woman exposes themselves for sexual gratification it is considered indecent exposure, that’s a felony and you would be required to register as a sex offender.

In some cases the harshest punishment is ten years in prison.

If you’re caught relieving yourself in public you could face a misdemeanor charge and a $200 fine. ..Source.. by Abbie Alford