NEW YORK (VINnews) — Complaints about public urination in New York City have risen significantly over the past year, according to police data, reflecting a broader increase in quality-of-life concerns across the city.

The New York Police Department reported 316 complaints so far this year, compared with 214 during the same period last year — an increase of nearly 50%, according to a report cited by the New York Post.

Authorities say the uptick mirrors a wider pattern of complaints involving issues such as noise, disorderly conduct and public drug use.

Public urination is treated as a non-criminal offense in New York and typically results in a $50 fine, though officials acknowledge enforcement varies and the number of summonses issued was not immediately clear.

City leaders have pointed to limited restroom access as a contributing factor. A public restroom locator known as Got2GoNYC was launched in 2022 to help residents find nearby facilities.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed investing $4 million to install dozens of self-cleaning public restrooms across the city, though similar efforts in the past have faced delays due to planning and regulatory hurdles.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers are weighing tougher penalties. Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny has introduced legislation that would raise fines for public urination and defecation to $500, with additional penalties for noncompliance.

Officials say the current fines may not be enough to deter the behavior as complaints continue to climb.