Ashland bans all public nudity

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) – The City of Ashland, long known for its artsy image, has changed its nudity laws.

On Tuesday night, the Ashland City Council adopted a citywide ban on public nudity.

The city had already banned the display of genitals in parks and in downtown. Tuesday's decision to expand the ban brought a threat of legal action from the American Civil Liberties Union, which says it violates the Oregon Constitution's protection of free expression.

The nudity issue arose in 2008, when a woman dubbed "the naked lady" started bicycling around this Southern Oregon town wearing only a G-string. More complaints came last summer, when a retired computer programmer visiting the city took nude strolls near an elementary school. A vacationer from Minnesota exposed himself in October.

City councilors reportedly had the option to limit nudity, but decided to outlaw it altogether.

Public nudity bans have been tested in court to hold up. In 1985, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld Portland's ban on public nudity. However, the court also ruled that public nudity can be a protected form of expression, such as during a protest.

- The Ashland Daily Tidings originated this report.