Images http://flickr.com/photos/43517501@N00/209848175Vancouver Police will soon be circulating a memo reminding officers that it’s okay for woman to walk around the City topless.
The move comes after a complaint was made to the police department from a woman who has crusaded for the right to go shirtless for years and was victorious in BC Supreme Court.
Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham says not everyone realizes it’s okay to bare your breasts in public, “Whether we’ve now evolved to a stage in our society where people can walk around with no clothes or topless is an issue that is going to generate, on some people’s part, concern and when that happens they phone us.”
Graham says officers don’t mean any harm when they detain a topless woman, even if it’s just for brief questioning.
A memo is now being sent to officers reminding them of the Court ruling.
A TravelBlog of resources and anecdotal observations for those who enjoy or are curious about nudity and naturism in the mountains, forests, rocky beaches and natural hot springs of the Pacific Northwest.
This blog contains images of simple nudity.
Do you know if this is correct?
ReplyDeleteThis was a letter to the editor article that appeared in a Eugene newspaper in 2002. I don't know if it was actually true then, or if it is actually true now. IF it is true this opens up lots of places for nude hiking.
http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/05/02/Commentary/Letters.To.The.Editor.050202-1977088.shtml
http://tinyurl.com/2tk728
Public nudity is not a crime
Public awareness of civil liberties has been an issue since our country was founded. If we have a liberty, we want to know about it.
However, our liberty to be nude on Lane County parks, land and roads (outside of city limits) has been kept secret. People assume that it is not legal. Only those who dare to call the Lane County Parks Department and Lane County Sheriff's Department will be informed that it is not illegal to be fully nude in those areas of Lane County.
This means we can walk, hike, run, bike or sunbathe nude in those areas. It is very enjoyable and liberating -- it's freedom. With any liberty, there is responsibility. You can't perform sexual acts in those areas, whether you're clothed or not. That will get you arrested. We're allowed to be nude, not to do sexual activities. Both are different matters not to be associated with one another.
The matter has been debated and determined to be legal. It is not a matter of discussion, it is a matter of our liberty. We all have a favorite freedom, and the last thing you want is uninformed people questioning or scoffing at a liberty. That spoils the point of having freedom. Who wants to diminish freedom? The only replacements for liberties are penalties. Think about that.
If you weren't aware of this liberty, you are now. You won't be surprised when you see a nude person in those areas. Perhaps you may be nude, too! Happy trails!
John Eccleston
Eugene
I would suspect that the gist of the Letter to the Editor is no longer true or, in fact, in error.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Lane County Code:
http://www.co.lane.or.us/LaneCode/documents/CodeChapter06_Oct_06.pdf
nudity appears to be addressed within the county.
PROHIBITED NUDITY
6.100 Prohibited Nudity and Penalty.
(1) No person, eight years of age or older, shall on public or private property, expose his or her genitals to another person, except within the boundaries of private property with the permission of the owner of said property, that is screened so that the act cannot be viewed from any other property.
(2) The Board of County Commissioners may designate certain areas as exceptions to LC 6.100(1) above after public notice and after a public hearing has been held with respect to the area to be designated as an exception. The areas so designated shall be posted so that the general public could not enter without being aware of the character of the area. In making such designation after said hearing, the following criteria shall be considered:
(a) Public character of the area.
(b) Traditional use of the area.
(c) Intensity and frequency of area use.
(d) Public safety.
(e) Balancing of interests of all Lane County residents.
(f) Public hearing to receive testimony from proponents and opponents.
(3) The hearing required in LC 6.100(2) above may be held after a minimum 30-day public notice.
(4) Violation of LC 6.100(1) above is punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $1,000 and by imprisonment in the County jail of not more than 30 days, or by both. (Revised 11.2.76 by Initiative Petition)
Just for the record.
ReplyDeleteHere is the BC court case.
http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/sc/00/09/s00-0902.htm
Women should feel perfectly free to swim topless in any of their public pools up there. At least from a legal standpoint.