08/17/05 - Flashing during Mardi Gras can still result in a citation, the San Luis Obispo City Council decided Tuesday night. But during the rest of the year, it may still be okay. The yearround anti-nudity rule passed following the 2004 Mardi Gras riots, when nearly 200 people were arrested from gathering crowds that police say were spurred in part by flashing. But when the City Council passed the measure in September they did so only with the agreement it be brought back for review. But at last night’s council meeting, members Paul Brown, John Ewan and Christine Mulholland successfully shifted the rule to only be in effect during the Mardi Gras weekend.

"Beyond Mardi Gras this is really an unnecessary ordinance to have," Ewan said. "I don't think we should be so puritanical that we need to do this year round." Police Chief Deb Linden told the council no tickets have been issued since the ordinance became effective in October 2004. But Linden said that proves the effectiveness of the law. "The measure of success for any law is the reduction of undesirable behavior," she said, "not the number of sanctions issued." Mayor Dave Romero supported keeping the measure year round, saying he was worried about the message limiting the rule would send. But Brown countered that new issues could be dealt with as they arise.

"We don't have a problem with nude bicycle tournaments," he said. "If it becomes an issue, we can deal with it."

Romero and Settle supported another measure that would have kept the law year round, but it failed to garner enough support to pass.