Brattleboro bans public nudity
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From Staff and Wire Reports - Published: July 19, 2007
BRATTLEBORO — A split town Select Board has outlawed public nudity in parts of the community.
By a vote of 3-2, the board Tuesday passed an emergency ordinance that could bring a $100 fine for not wearing clothes on the town's main roads.
But outside corridors defined by U.S. Route 5 and state Route 9 nudity would still be allowed as long as it's not within 250 feet of any school, place of worship. Certain other parts of town would also be included in the ban.
"People have a reasonable expectation that when they are going out, they're not going to run into any nude people," said selectboard member Dick DeGray, who wrote the ordinance.
Selectboard member Stephen Steidle said the first of two planned public meetings on a proposed permanent ordinance would be at the select board's Aug. 7 meeting.
The emergency ordinance will remain in place for 30 days.
Steidle said he wanted residents with children or tourists to feel like there was at least some sections of town, like the busy downtown, where they wouldn't find nude people.
The selectboard passed the ordinance after the community developed an international reputation for accepting public nudity. Some officials feared the nudity could hurt local business.
Steidle said he understood this issue had attracted attention because it was unusual but said that wasn't what prompted the selectboard to action.
"I think it's both. The issue is unusual so the media gets a hold of it and tries to turn it into something. But it's also something we've been dealing with for the last year and a half. It's not an everyday occurrence but it happens enough to be an issue," he said.
"I understand a lot of people find it uncomfortable to be faced with someone nude," said Select Board member Dora Bouboulis, who voted against the ordinance. "We're careful not to legislate morality."
According to Steidle, supporters and detractors of the ordinance have made themselves heard.
"There's definitely a constituency that feels they don't want us to infringe on the freedom of expression of others. But I think some of those people are infringing on the rights of others themselves. So you hear from both sides," he said.
The ordinance defines nudity as the showing of genitalia, buttocks or female breasts. A provision would allow breast-feeding in public.
"I'm not looking for a town-wide ban in every nook and cranny," said DeGray. "We though we would start in a smaller region. This is the primary area of concern."
Steidle said he believed any Brattleboro residents who wanted to read the proposed ordinance before the public hearing could obtain a copy by contacting the municipal offices.
The Aug. 7 meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m.
Herald reporter Patrick McArdle contributed to this report.
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