May 27, 1997

WINDSOR, Ont. -- Even Americans are getting in on the act after an Ontario court ruled it's legal for women to bare their breasts in public.

Windsor police Staff-Sgt. George McPhee said two officers on foot patrol Saturday had quite a surprise because of the court ruling.

"A couple of our beat officers were approached by a pair of young gals from Michigan and they were asking the officers if it was legal in Canada to go topless," McPhee said.

"The officers replied in fact it was, at which time these gals raised their tops and bared their breasts to the officers, rather startled officers I might add."

NOTHING THEY COULD DO

McPhee said there was nothing the officers could do.

"It is legal, no question about that. At this point in time, we're just taking a sort of hands-off approach."

A number of Ontario municipalities are looking into bylaws to prevent women from going topless in public. But McPhee said the novelty of the situation will soon wear off.

"There is a sort of novelty to this whole thing," he said. "I think as summer approaches we will find it's not going to be near the problem people anticipate."

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