Scandal on the train: Man expires in front of women - police intervene!

Scandal on the train: Man expires in front of women - police intervene!

On Wednesday afternoon, an incident caused excitement on a train from Laupheim to Ulm. A 35-year-old lowered the pants in the regional express and exposed three young women between the ages of 16 and 18. The confused and shocked witnesses did not trust their eyes and immediately informed the federal police, who reacted quickly. At around 3 p.m., the man at Ulm main station was received and checked by the emergency services. Against him, the suspicion of the excitement of public annoyance is now being investigated, according to [Augsburger Allgemeine] (https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/neu-ulm/ulm-laupheim-mann-im-zug-zug- Hosen-Runter-Die-Polizei-109281927) reports.

But what exactly does "excitement of public annoyance" mean? According to § 183a StGB in Germany, this is a criminal offense that can be punished with a prison sentence of up to one year or a fine. The fact comprises public sexual acts that deliberately or knowingly aroused a nuisance. If you want to classify the case of the 35-year-old, § 183 StGB could also be relevant, since it could be exhibitionist actions. If this act does not fall under the law, however, it can be seen as a harassment of the general public, such as [Wikipedia] (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/eregung_%C3%B6ff essence_%C3%A4rgernisses).

the legal consequences

In 2018 there were a total of 240 convictions in Germany for excitement of public annoyance, with 226 of which were men and only 14 women. The legislature therefore seems to have an eye on how people behave in public space.

There are also comparable regulations in neighboring countries. In Austria, public sexual acts according to § 218 StGB can be punished with up to six months of imprisonment or a fine. In Switzerland, the same applies from the aspect of public sexual behavior, which can be seen as an assault sexual harassment. In general, there are big differences in the international legal situation, as the regulations in the USA show, where the phenomenon "Public Indecency" takes on other dimensions.

a frightening behavior

In times when sensitivity to public security and personal borders are increasingly brought to the fore, such behavior is a serious matter on one train. The federal police and the judiciary will surely take a close look at this incident. Reporting focuses on the amplitude of the behavior of the man, which not only raises legal but also moral questions.

whether the incident in Laupheim is an exception or rather a sign of a general delimitation in society remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the protection of the public and maintaining order is of great importance and corresponding measures are necessary.