A group of nudists seeking to keep a Southern California beach clothing optional has lost its latest court battle.
An appellate panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal has ruled that a state policy that set guidelines for nude sunbathing on state beaches is invalid.
State officials began to crack down on nudity last year on a 1,000 foot stretch of San Onofre State Beach, where sunbathing naked has gone on for about 20 years, citing complaints about lewd behavior.
A group of naturists sued and won the right to sunbathe in the buff on the basis of 1979 guidelines for nudity at state beaches. On Thursday, the panel ruled that the guidelines aren't enforceable because they weren't adopted with public feedback.
The group told the Orange County Register that an appeal of the latest ruling is likely.
