Are skimpy thong bathing suits allowed on NC beaches? Here’s what state law says
Summers are perfect for taking in some rays at the beach, but some states have laws that prevent you from wearing certain types of bathing suits.
For example, Delaware law prevents residents from wearing bathing suits that expose their “genitals or buttocks” in a way that it “is likely to cause affront or alarm to another person.” In Indiana, nudity includes the “showing of buttocks,” which is illegal in public.
North Carolina has general laws that prevent people from exposing themselves, but do those laws apply to skimpy swimsuits on the beach? Here’s what to know.
Can you wear a thong on the beach in NC?
Wearing a thong on the beach does not violate North Carolina’s indecent exposure law, according to the UNC School of Government.
But anyone who exposes their private parts in any public place where other people are present can be charged with indecent exposure, according to Raleigh-based Cotten Law Firm.
The state defines “private parts” as male and female genitalia, meaning a person’s buttocks or breasts are not considered private parts. State law says women cannot be charged with breastfeeding in public.
However, some towns and beaches in the state have laws that require buttocks to be covered, Denning says. And many municipalities have ordinances requiring tops for women, though not for men, The News & Observer reported.
Other towns have more relaxed laws, such as Carolina Beach, which voted to strike the word “buttocks” from the public nudity ordinance in 2019, WBTW reported.
What is the punishment for indecent exposure in NC?
In most cases, indecent exposure is considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and 30 days of probation for a defendant who has no prior convictions, according to Kurtz & Blum, a law firm based in Raleigh.
A person who exposes themselves to a minor under the age of 16 “for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire,” can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to 25 months in prison.
This story was originally published July 10, 2024 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Are skimpy thong bathing suits allowed on NC beaches? Here’s what state law says."
