NYPD: Topless women in public is not a crime

[davidn3600]

Ladies of New York , you are free to walk bare-breasted through the city! New York City's 34,000 police officers have been instructed that, should they encounter a woman in public who is shirtless but obeying the law, they should not arrest her. This is a good step towards gender parity in public spaces.

This decision means that breast exposure is not considered public lewdness, indecent exposure, or disorderly conduct. It also notes that, should a crowd form around a topless woman, the officer should instruct the crowd to disperse and then respond appropriately if it does not. Relative coverage is no longer a factor.

This policy shift comes after several years of litigation and protest. In the 1992 case People v. Ramona Santorelli and Mary Lou Schloss, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of two women who were arrested with five others for exposing their breasts in a Rochester park, holding the law void as discriminatory. The ruling was put to the test in 2005, when Jill Coccaro bared her breasts on Delancey Street in New York, citing the 1992 decision, and was detained for twelve hours. She subsequently successfully sued the city for $29,000.

In 2007, Go Topless, a national organization supporting gender equality in shirtlessness laws, established Go Topless Day. Dozens of women protest – often topless – in thirty cities around the United States, promoting equal rights to be shirtless. Protests usually include chants of “Free your breasts. Free your minds” and a song “Let ‘em Breathe” to the tune of the Beatles’ “Let it Be.”

While some who have witnessed these events have suggested that "this is extreme liberalism and why America’s in decline” or "it’s degrading to women,” others have been supportive. One man even said he would encourage his wife to join them.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/42359/topless-women-in-public-not-breaking-the-law-says-nypd

[Baitball Blogger]

1. This is new.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. '...should they encounter a woman in public who is shirtless but obeying the law,...

...they should not arrest her.'

Does this imply that baring one's breasts is a secondary offense, similar to being cited for a seat-belt violation when one is pulled over for speeding? Unless it's spelled out explicitly, that line is just a bit of unnecessary editorializing.

[riverbendviewgal]

3. Ontario has the same law

I have seen just a few woman walking on street bare breasted. It is no big deal. I think most Ontario woman go topless in their own yards or the beaches.

[burnodo]

4. Just like marijuana...

just because it's legal doesn't mean everyone is going to do it

[PD Turk]

5. Start spreading the news

....I'm leaving today...

[Joey Liberal]

6. Thank you, NYPD!

Lot's of great racks in NYC ........ It's only right that they should be on display in public!

[Eleanors38]

7. It's legal in Austin, Tx ever since a municipal judge

Through out a complaint that a woman was riding her bike bear-breasted. There are some women who still let 'em thunder at Barton Springs pool.

[Comrade Grumpy]

16. It's been that way in Austin for at least 30 years.

Barton Springs was famous for it.

[randome]

8. This thread is useless without...never mind.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[L0oniX]

14. Yes but do they get Jerry Beads for it?

[randome]

15. You mean like this?

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Just remember, the women who do this aren't inviting comments, stares or opinions. n/t

[bettyellen]

10. do you think men on the beach are? or in the streets of Moscow when it hits 85+ degrees F?

I was kind of amazed at first when I was there during a heat wave to see dozens of men of all types walking around topless in the middle of the city during a heat wave. At first it seemed a little odd and out of place. I'd only seen kids and teens doing the same when out playing in the streets of the Bronx. Not adults, walking in midtown. Quickly I got accustomed and hardly noticed it. They simply felt like it was an adjustment they wanted to make to better cope with or enjoy the weather.

At now time did I imagine that these guys wanted to hear my assessment of their bodies or were looking for anyone's attention. But then again I know it's rude and intrusive to comment on a person's body unless you know them to the extent that you know it's okay. And that can mean that it's only for a minute of conversation and they steer the conversation there. Or that I know someone enough to know my comment would be welcome. But strangers? Gawking and comments are always rude, even if in some way I "imagine" they are looking for attention. It's not so hard to think about- and treat people- like a bit more than objects.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

18. What are the odds that vodka was involved?

[bettyellen]

22. None. Maybe the men jumping into that filthy river were drunk. But it was too wide of cross

section of humanity, as sober and purposeful as anyone else. It was a reaction to a seriously unusual heat wave, and actually common among norther tier countries. And I understood that, and never assumed anything about these half dressed men. Which was my point.

Interesting that you steer a conversation about people stereotyping others behavior by piling on more stereotypes, huh?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

24. I find it odd that these Russian men would do that. I was wondering about the cause of such odd

behavior.

Maybe, like over-size lemmings, they were just engaging in group-think. There are some people who do that.

[bettyellen]

25. I remember a Swede friend who would react that way at first sign of hot weather and he explains when

the sun comes out strong after their harsh winters, it would be common for men and women to suddenly go topless (mostly near at home for women, but everybody when when gardening but guys everywhere). Just because it feels great after being bundled up, and they are not used to the heat. It hit 90 degrees for a few weeks in a row, there were wildfires so bad outside the cities that the city got very smokey and they closed a lot of museums. I was lucky I hit the beginning of it. But it;s amazing how quickly it seemed normal. I wonder if that could ever happen with women topless. Right now, I can't imagine wanting cope with the comments and abuse. Couldn't handle being reduced to a piece of meat.

[L0oniX]

11. Cue: feminist outrage.

[Flying Squirrel]

21. Eh, I think the feminist outrage

Comes from lewd comments, mainly. If a woman wants to go topless, she should be free to do so and it would be nice if it didn't attract a crowd. I think most feminists would agree. Now, I'll admit I would have a difficult time not staring, but if it became more commonplace I'd probably get used to it.

[Egalitarian Thug]

12. Breasts=Sex=Stupid

We can thank our dumbass Puritan ancestors for this one, too.

[WinkyDink]

19. Not Hugh Hefner?

[Orrex]

27. We can thank our prehistoric ancestors for this one, too

Goes back a lot farther than a few centuries.

[Poll_Blind]

13. I support any form of political expression which involves women voluntarily disrobing.

Where is my waving American flag animated .gif when I need it, goddamnit!

PB

[hunter]

17. We don't often beat "immodest" women here in the USA as they do in places like Saudi Arabia.

We just set the drooling rude boys loose on them.

It's still harassment.

[WinkyDink]

20. They'll rue the day, when nobody but 70-yr-old babushkas goes half-naked.

[Major Nikon]

23. But what if they are dancing erotically?

[ZombieHorde]

26. Good. I don't support the government telling people how to dress then they

are just out and about.

Dress codes for people when they're preparing food for the public or performing surgery is probably a good idea, but not when they're walking around on their own time.

[Nye Bevan]

28. I agree, except I think that people should be required to wear clothes covering their genitals

for reasons of basic hygiene. Skid marks and urine drips are nasty.