City resolves to ask state parks to enforce nudity laws
State parks says it addresses complaints as they are received
The Auburn City Council resolved to send a message to state parks officials regarding their enforcement of lewd acts along the American River. Councilman Kevin Hanley presented a resolution that was unanimously supported by all five council members at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night. The resolution cites media attention to a stretch of beach along the American River that is a destination for nude sunbathers and, more recently, open-air sexual encounters. The resolution petitions the state parks superintendent and rangers to ensure that families can enjoy boating and rafting along the river “by making it absolutely clear that Section 4322 will be enforced on those sections of the river where boaters and rafters are likely to use the river.” Section 4322 of state law prohibits any person from appearing nude while in any unit except authorized areas determined by state parks, the resolution states. “It seems like the state department has taken a passive stance toward enforcing the law,” Hanley said Tuesday. “So I researched the law and thought it was a good idea for the city council to encourage the state department of parks and recreation to enforce the law.” Mike Lynch, sector superintendent for the Auburn State Recreation Area, said state parks rangers have a policy of responding to any type of illegal activity, including illicit sexual acts. He said there is a long-standing department policy that makes it a low priority to respond to complaints of nude sunbathing when it is done in remote areas not readily available to the public. Lynch said rangers respond to complaints as they are received, but can only issue a citation if they see illegal activity themselves. “We’re very aware of the concerns people have along the river,” Lynch said. “We have about 40 miles of river canyon on the north and middle forks. There’s a lot of remote area that doesn’t get patrolled at all unless there is some problem.” Hanley said the city would like to see state parks rangers make more of an effort to enforce the law rather than relying on citizen reports. “The main point of the resolution is to say the American River is really important to Auburn residents,” Hanley said. “We want (state parks) to find some way to enforce the law and not be dependent on citizens as law enforcement.” The area that has come under fire is a section of the river that used to be remote until it was opened last year following completion of a water pump construction project by the Placer County Water Agency. Lynch said last summer they did not receive an increase in complaints to the area despite its now more-public access. He added that the Auburn area state parks office has about one or two rangers on duty at a time to cover 20 or so miles of river. Weimar resident Andrea Rose said she would like to see more enforcement in the area. She said she likes to go hiking with her 10- and 11-year-old sons and their redbone coonhound. “It’s a beautiful site and I would love to take my two kids there without having to worry about what they might see,” Rose said. The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.
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Really, this is another issue for the Parks Rangers to take on! Wow Kevin you got a pretty little picture in the paper over this non issue congratulations! With drug cartels growing pot off major trails in these same areas your concern is a few nudists! Thank you for your dedication to our community I feel safer already.
I was at mammoth bar riding my motorcycle with about 150 other law abiding people, and I counted six state park workers there. I didnt see a single naked person or anyone having sex. Maybe that little lesson could work along the river.
At least the picture is not of another nude sunbather.
I have taken my kids down to the river and had to pass nude men. Not just sunbathing, which sounds innocent, but walking around naked. Made me angry that they did not show respect around my kids. I wish I had my B-B gun with me at the time. Hopefully, State Parks will clean it up around the river.
I have been going down to "Twin Bridges" for many years now. A couple years back I remember my girlfriend and I kinda got off the beaten path and strolled down the river to find a more private spot to sunbathe. Next thing we knew we were being watched by a "sick-o" who was busy stroking his Johnson. Talk about a violation!!
Isn't that section of the river outside of the city limits? Why not also send a letter to New York hot dog vendors asking for a more varried condiment selection. Doesn't the city has enough issues of its own to worry about at the moment? APD is suing the city, aoh and lets not forget those darn sparrows!
Doesnt the city have more important business to attend to? What a waste of time...i guess the complainers have never been to a european, beach, the puritans are out in droves these days...
There's a difference between nudity and lewdity.
But if you turn your German Shepard or Pit Bull dog loose, and it attacks trail users and results in severe injuries to other people, and even euthanasia of other human companion animals,
THAT'S OKAY.
Wow, some people really have their priorities screwed up.
These "events" that are down by the river are nothing new; it's been going on for years. Suddenly it's in the Auburn Journal and everyone is all up in arms about it. Get over yourselves and stop being so prudish.
City Council: Go do something productive.
Sorry folks if puritans is what you want to call it, have at it! Kids see enough crap on tv, magazines, everwhere they look they are bombarded with SEX! Personally my daughter who is 8 years old doesn't need to see a bunch of naked bodies walking around and doing whatever else they are doing. That doesn't make me a puritan, it makes me a mother who would like to hold on to what little bit of innocence my daughter has!!!
To all the naked river people,
Streak the next city council meeting like they used to do in the 70's. You won't be out of sight by the river and that's what they want.
CCR1022 - Leave the BB gun at home. It will only get you in trouble.
Seems to me that if the nude human body is offensive to you, you should take up your problem with The Designer. Nude bodies never hurt kids - they've seen their own (maybe yours, too). Here's an idea: leave the kids with grandma when you're out cruising nude beaches.
BTW, State Parks policy dictates nudity on public lands is not, per se, illegal. State Park rangers have operated for decades under a policy known as the "Cahill" policy, named after former Parks Director Russ Cahill:
"it shall be the policy of the Department that enforcement of nude sunbathing regulations within the State Park System shall be made only upon the valid complaint of a private citizen. Citations or arrests shall be made only after attempts are made to elicit voluntary compliance with the regulations."
When the Cahill Policy was written, the public stance on public nudity was more enlightened than it is now - especially around here.
Since the same people most likely to make a complaint are also the least likely to make an effort to get to a remote part of a state beach, those areas have become clothing optional by default. You are unlikely to be bothered in such areas. However, if a ranger appears and asks you to put your clothes on, comply and stay clothed for the rest of the day to avoid a citation. If you cross the line from just passive sunbathing nude to other activities, you can (and probably will) be prosecuted under California Penal Code Section 314. If convicted, you will carry a lifetime registration as a sex offender. Very serious stuff.
auburnite - Good point about Europeans. They seem to have no issue with folks taking off their clothes in public when the sun comes out. Unlike us, they mind their own business and don't seem to pay much attention to others who are nude. Must be from growing up around all that nude church art.
Frankly, I'd rather have the authorities doing something more functional with my tax dollars than leering at nude sunbathers.
the nudity is not the issue, Lewd sex acts in public are not cool. I dont care if you want to lay on your towel nude, but sex is more than I am willing to tolerate.
Skeptic, while your comment about nudity being natural has a common sense theme on first blush (hehe), in reality I don't want some old guy flashing his johnson at my kids. Your argument fails the wisdom test. If they want to run around naked and have sex on the beach, they should stay at home. Remember the saying, "I want the government to stay out of my bedroom?" It was not, "I want the government to stay out of public parks when I have sex with other men in view of children and sensible adults."
When it comes to lewdness, I think that is a valid complaint and that the state park officials should vigorously enforce laws against public sexual activity which is very uncool. However, the gist of this article seems to be that those who simply don't like nuidty want the whole area to be declared a nudity-free zone. Prudes do not have superior rights to nudes. If those quoted have such a big problem with nude sunbathing then maybe they should utilize another area within the 35,000 acres and 40 miles along the American River that this state park encompasses for their activities rather than urging for more law enforcement response in this one area that apparently has a long standing tradition of being used for nude sunbathing. After reading some of the other articles posted on the Auburn Journal site, it seems pretty apparent that the Auburn City Council has more pressing matters to worry about than whether people are sunbathing in the nude.
Skeptic's explanation of the Cahill Policy is right on. I also agree with larryd.
To Realist, I might add that if you really don't want your kids to "see some old guy's johnson," then please take them to any of the thousands of beaches and parks where people wear clothes, and leave alone the precious few places set aside for those who prefer to sun and swim as naturally as God made them.
A 2006 Roper Poll found that 74% of Americans believe that people who enjoy nude sunbathing should be able to do so without interference from local officials as long as they do so at a beach that is accepted for that purpose, and 54% believe that local governments should set aside areas for people who enjoy nude sunbathing. It also found that 25% of Americans have gone "skinny dipping" or nude sunbathing in a mixed group of men and women.
To Kevin Hanley and the others on the Auburn City Council, I would say, first, please concern yourselves with what goes on in your city, and let the State Parks run their parks as they so successfully have without your telling them what to do. And second, please do not punish the victims! The many naturists who enjoy natural non-sexual sunning and swimming are as offended as you are by the few clueless morons who wrongly think that "clothing optional" gives them license to inappropriately act out sexually.
RichPasco , it's a PUBLIC beach paid for and maintained by PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS. Guess what, I pay taxes. If they want to do that in the open, then they should do it on their own property.
BTW I don't live in Europe. I wear clothes when I go out in public and if you want to sunbathe nude do it at home!
The human body is beautiful and should be seen with wonder, not fear or disgust. The negative responses seem more like contrived indignation than a justifiable response to the human body. My guess is that those who feel the greatest need to condemn nudists/naturists as immoral or indecent are the ones who feel least comfortable in their own skin. As far as the "alleged" lewd behavior, obviously that shouldn't go on, but I have serious doubts that much of it, if any, is actually going on. It appears that Gus Thomson wrote his initial journal article on nothing more than his own "investigation" using anonymous postings on Craig's List. What kind of news reporting is that? In many ways, it was like "starting a fire." Then, when the community reacted to the article (the fire), the city council had to prove its indignance with some sort of action. Then the Auburn Journal who started the "fire" in the first place writes a follow-up story about how the fire is being "put out." I haven't seen or heard any actual filed complaints, just a whole lot of "smoke" and "running around," reacting to Gus Thomson's original article of May 7. This isn't reporting the news. It's creating the news. In fact, it's worse than creating the news. It's creating havoc over nothing when there are legitimate problems to solve in our community. Just remember that the number of Auburn residents who support a "live and let live" policy to nude sunbathing is far more than the couple of people creating the ruckus. And one last thing, if every person who is making a big deal out of nude sunbathing was forced to reveal the "history" or "cache" on his or her home computer, we'ld have a lot fewer people sharing their supposed "indignations." Think about it!
On a day dedicated to those who fought and died for "freedom",(not anarchy), it might be valuable time spent pondering what "freedom" really means and why it is worth fighting and dying for. Freedom is valued and appreciated now because there was a time when some freedom you value was denied by a ruling elite or even a majority. Religious freedom from the government establishment of an approved religion with its' moral doctrines was set into the U.S. Constitution by our wise fore fathers who wanted to avoid the blood that was spilled for centuries in Europe by the Protestant and Catholic self-righteous.
NKJ Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Many citizens of the U.S. of America will say they believe in religious freedom but what they really mean is they believe in their right to live the way they think is right and their right, as a majority, to force that way on their neighbors! They seem to think God has anointed them to prohibit you from doing what you believe is right if it does not conform with what they believe is right even if your actions can not be proved to harm them! We need to relearn the fact that our freedoms are secured by defending, not denying, the freedoms of our neighbor that we may not like but that do not physically harm us.