Originally posted by sigma:
Actually there are very very few laws regarding public nudity except in cases where it'd done to harm someone such as exposing one's self to children. In areas where there are nude beaches for example there is no exemption from the law for them, they are just places that are 'understood' to be places where those of us who do not want to experience it should not go.

We as a culture have accepted that public nudity is generally not to be practiced, and we often get up in arms when it is, however it is rarely a technically illegal practice unless a prosecutor can prove it was done, or could be construed as being done, with the lewd intent of harming someone.



You are correct, in that there are laws that protect children. For example, this law in IL could be expanded to include acts of public nudity without lewd intent, and hence result in a Class A Misdemeanor (1 step below a felony):

(720 ILCS 5/11ΓΆβ?¬β??21) (from Ch. 38, par. 11ΓΆβ?¬β??21)
Sec. 11ΓΆβ?¬β??21. Harmful material.
(a) Elements of the Offense.
A person who, with knowledge that a person is a child, that is a person under 18 years of age, or who fails to exercise reasonable care in ascertaining the true age of a child, knowingly distributes to or sends or causes to be sent to, or exhibits to, or offers to distribute or exhibit any harmful material to a child, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Material is harmful if, to the average person, applying contemporary standards, its predominant appeal, taken as a whole, is to prurient interest, that is a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sex, or excretion, which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters, and is material the redeeming social importance of which is substantially less than its prurient appeal.
(2) Material, as used in this Section means any writing, picture, record or other representation or embodiment.
(3) Distribute means to transfer possession of, whether with or without consideration.
(4) Knowingly, as used in this section means having knowledge of the contents of the subject matter, or recklessly failing to exercise reasonable inspection which would have disclosed the contents thereof.



It seems we as a society recognize that our values are contrary to public nudity, and with the latest vote, we have seen a similar popular public opinion as to the question of gay marriage.

95 Contour SE ATX V6- SOLD 2001.5 VW Passat GLX V6 Tiptronic 2004 Honda VTX 1800N1 There are no stupid questions. There are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.