Nudists Say Park Rangers Following, Harassing Them Onto Federal Beach
SAN CLEMENTE (CBS/AP) — Nudists say California park rangers are harassing them by following them to a federally owned beach since they have had to ditch a state beach where clothing is now required.
The Orange County Register reported Tuesday that naturists have started moving from a strip of San Onofre State Beach to a nearby beach at Camp Pendleton.
Nudists say state officials have followed them and told them to put their clothes on and leave the military base.
State officials say they are letting the naturists know they are trespassing by crossing onto federal land. However, there is no federal law banning nudity on the military base.
State officials started cracking down on nudity on a strip of San Onofre beach that has been a traditional nude sunbathing spot for decades, citing complaints about lewd behavior. Nudists fought the effort but a court upheld the state's right to cite the naturists.
Recently, Camp Pendleton officials had to call state rangers for help on July 17 to clear their beach of some nude sunbathers, the Register reported. Nudists say state rangers have recruited military officials to help them crack down on them, but officials say there is no formal agreement between the two agencies.
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