San Francisco Nudity Ban: Proposal Orders Nudist to Cover Up (Sometimes) in Public Areas

A new proposal that would ban nudity in (some) San Francisco public areas orders nudists to cover up, or else face a fine of up to $500. Scott Wiener, a supervisor who introduced the ordinance to "ban nudity" on Tuesday, claims that "Our [San Francisco] town square [is] becoming an ad-hoc nudist colony" -and he's ready for that to change.

Wiener's nudity ban would be enforceable in a number of San Francisco districts, including the Castro District, an area notoriously known for nudists to congregate.

Under the proposed ordinance nudity would still be allowed in federally controlled San Francisco public areas, including at street fairs, festivals, parades, and beaches. Instead, the law is aimed to discourage nudists from "flaunting their goods" daily in other populated areas around the district.

While Wiener admits that there have always been cases of public nudity in the Castro District, there has been a recent significant increase of nudists showing up in the neighborhood's Jane Warner Plaza. He tells NBC that on a slow day there could be two to four nudists seen walking around the plaza - on a busy day, sometimes more than 10 to 12.

The proposed ordinance would fine people walking around "in the nude" $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second offense within a year, and either a misdemeanor or up to a $500 ticket for the third offense. The law must be approved by a majority of the city's supervisors and signed by San Francisco's mayor, Ed Lee.

According to "The San Francisco Examiner," California state law only bans "lewd" public behavior, not simply public nudity. Therefore, cities and counties must decide for themselves what rules go in regards to public "indecent exposure."

While some San Franciscans proud to walk around in the buff may not be too happy about the proposed ordinance, Wiener has been successful in the past in targeting the city's public nudity. According to "The SF Examiner," last year he helped pass a law that requires nudists to put a "cloth buffer" between their exposed body and any public seat that they sit on.