Bill aims to crack down on nudity

Bill aims to crack down on nudity

The so-called "naked neighbor" Jimmy "Mack" McKenzie is pictured in this video still captured by KATU News.

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Story Published: Mar 22, 2007 at 7:26 PM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 11, 2007 at 8:35 PM PDT

By Thom Jensen and KATU Web Staff

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SALEM, Ore. - Supporters of a bill being considered by state lawmakers say it would close a loophole in the state's private indecency law.

House Bill 3317 would amend the law by making exposure illegal when it is in view of a place where another person has an expectation of privacy.

For instance, it would make it illegal to run around your yard naked in view of others.

That is what Rainier's so-called "naked neighbor" Jimmy "Mack" McKenzie has been doing for years.

A Team 2 investigation on McKenzie's nude - and some would say lewd - behavior outside his home drew national attention. The 59-year-old was caught on video walking around his yard naked. But the sheriff's department and district attorney said he did not break the law - even if he was in full view of children.

Currently Oregon has two nudity laws: public indecency and private indecency.

But neither addresses a neighbor exposing himself or herself to another person when both people are on private property.

"We wouldn't want a situation where people are doing things that are really in conflict with community standards," said Rep. Greg MacPherson, a Lake Oswego Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, which is considering the bill. "And just because they are standing on their own property, that it isn't against the law."

D.J. Darco is a victim in an unrelated indecent exposure case that couldn't be prosecuted under Oregon law. She is also a longtime advocate for changing the law. She said she hopes the legislature makes acts like McKenzie's illegal.

"We want a simplified law," she said. "A law that is simple to prosecute these people when we need to."

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