Conference moira::naturism

186.0. "Judge's comment from Florida nude jogging case" by MOIRA::FAIMAN (light upon the figured leaf) Thu Jul 06 1989 10:00

    I came across the following recently.  This is from a 1986 Florida
    Supreme Court decision in the case of a woman who was arrested for
    jogging topless at a traditionally clothing-optional beach.  The court
    upheld the conviction; this quote is from Justice Adkins's dissenting
    opinion (489 So.2d 734):

	I cannot help but comment on the distressing trend of state and
	local authorities to arrest topless sunbathers in areas which,
	through custom and tradition, have tolerated topless sunbathing.
	Florida has a long and treasured coastline and to permit topless
	sunbathing or recreation in at least a few segregated areas would
	hardly destroy the moral fabric of society.

	I would note, too, that in this era of violent crime increasingly
	scarce police resources could be used in a far more productive
	manner than in arresting those whose only crime involves
	themselves, in the proper locale, to the sea's breeze and Florida's
	sunshine.  I take comfort in knowing that sometime in the future,
	people will read the majority opinion and chuckle that the state
	would actually forbid topless jogging or sunbathing in a small area
	which was widely recognized as clothing-optional.