Beachgoers on the San Diego-owned side of Black's Beach must wear bathing suits over their birthday suits or risk a citation and fine RELATED VIDEO CNN's Jim Hill reports on the closing of part of a California nude beach. Windows Media 28K 80K

July 2, 1999
Web posted at: 4:22 p.m. EDT (2022 GMT)

In this story: 'A place where exhibitionists go' Nudity ban 'barely' enforced 'They'll give up' RELATED STORIES, SITES

SAN DIEGO (CNN) -- This may be a disappointing Fourth of July weekend for anyone planning to declare independence from their clothes at San Diego's popular, yet unofficial, nude beach.

After years of tolerating sunbathers in the buff, the California city is again trying to enforce a decades-old prohibition against nudity at Black's Beach.

Anti-nudity signs were posted last week. Those who bare all on city property now risk a citation and a $135 fine.

'A place where exhibitionists go'

Some who frequent Black Beach, a 1,500-foot stretch of coastline in the wealthy enclave of La Jolla, have complained about an increase in sexual behavior and expansion of the nude beach boundaries by the clothing-optional set.

"What's happened is that it's become a place where exhibitionists go," said longtime resident Melinda Merryweather. "You can't take children down there and leave your kids on the beach when you go out in the water."

The city is seeking to drive nudists north to Torrey Pines State Park, where nudity is still permitted on more than two miles of state-owned beach property.

"People who want to do nude sunbathing can continue to do that," explains chief lifeguard Chris Brewster. "There's just a little restriction on one end of the beach."

Local resident Rob Schwartz told CNN he supports the crackdown as a way to put more distance between nude beachgoers and "people who do not want to be involved or near the nudity."

This man says enjoying the sun in the buff only adds to the beauty of the beach experience

Nudity ban 'barely' enforced

This isn't a new issue at Black's Beach, named for a founding family of La Jolla but officially known as Torrey Pines Beach.

The southern portion of the property near Scripps Pier belongs to the city; the northern part belongs to the state. The dividing line is the city's cliff-top park for hang gliders.

In 1974, the city decided to allow nudity at the beach, but voters reversed the ordinance in 1977. Ever since, San Diego's lifeguards have "barely" enforced the ban.

Gary Hanauer, a freelance writer who compiles an annual guide to California's nude beaches, said nudists fear that the clothing-optional zone will get too crowded.

Black's Beach, though, hasn't been overwhelmed. Those who routinely visit say complaints are exaggerated, and a live-and-let-live attitude prevails.

"It doesn't bother me at all," said Steve DiPalma, who was surfing at the beach Monday in a full-body wetsuit.

DiPalma, 37, a substitute teacher who has surfed twice a week for more than 10 years at Black's Beach, said he's never seen any lewd conduct.

A topless sunbather agreed. "I've never been offended by anything that's gone on down here," said Mindy Duncan, 28, a San Diego department store manager.

Not everyone, including this sunbather, supports the ban on beach nudity

'They'll give up'

Beachgoers already seem to be getting the city's anti-nudity message.

On a recent afternoon there wasn't a single person au natural on the city section, while about two dozen unclothed sunbathers, mostly men, relaxed on the state-owned portion of the beach.

Ken Wisniewski, a 42-year-old dispatcher for the San Diego Water Department, said he will simply throw on a pair of shorts when he strolls along the city-patrolled section. But he doesn't think he'll have to do it for long.

"It won't last," he said of the al fresco crackdown. "They'll give up after this season. They always do."

Lifeguards, meantime, say ticketing nudists will be a low priority. After all, their job is to guard lives, not morals.

Correspondent Jim Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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