Legal Battle: Marines, Park Rangers and Nudists at the Beach

The Los Angeles Times reports Gold Beach, the strip of sand on Camp Pendleton where Marines train for amphibious assaults, is now the scene of a battle between nudists and state park rangers. A handful of  misdemeanor cases are pending in San Diego County Superior Court.

The nudists say zealous California state park rangers have followed them onto the federal property to cite them for violating California laws such as Penal Code sections 314.1, 647(a) or section 4432 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.  

The Marine Corps says it does not want any civilians - naked or clothed - on its beach.

Gold Beach is directly south of San Onofre State Beach. Two years ago a California court ruled the state had the authority to ban nudity at Trail 6, a spot favored by nudists.

Trail 6 is a short walk from Gold Beach.

But in an effort to avoid park rangers at San Onofre State Beach, nudists have ventured south.

An apparent confrontation a week ago, details of which are in dispute, between a nudist, rangers and military police has brought the issue to a head.

The nudists wonder why a cash-strapped parks system can afford to spend time and money on enforcing a prohibition on what they see as the victimless crime of going au naturel.

A Marine spokesman said state park rangers are allowed to cross onto Gold Beach to tell beachgoers they are trespassing.

The issue of nudity at San Onofre State Beach, as it has in the past, appears destined for court.

A Huntington Beach lawyer fought the losing fight to keep Trail 6 clothing optional. He represents nudists facing charges; one tactic is to request jury trials in hopes prosecutors will decide it is too costly and time-consuming for such a minor matter to go to trial.

His group, the Naturist Action Committee, does not recommend nudists trespass onto Gold Beach. But he said he understands the impulse to defy authority. The group's promise to nudists: "We've got your back."

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