Though we're all born naked, some people (and cops) aren't comfortable around naked bodies, especially boobies. And though it is totally legal to go topless on the street, it isn't everywhere. So what's a lady ticketed for being topless in Grand Central to do? Why, go to court and strip, of course! What's more, when Holly Van Voast did just that yesterday she managed to make it work out just fine.
According to the Times, yesterday "Van Voast, 45, stripped in front of, among others, Judge Rita Mella, her octogenarian lawyer and a stenographer who most likely had little idea what to type." After she disrobed, "It was like, 'What do we do now?'" a court officer recalled.
Van Voast (who some of our readers might know as flickr user lensjockey) apparently likes to take off her clothes "to express her frustration with stigmas against public nudity." Because she feels "that any form of nudity should be protected," she said. Anyway, after being threatened with being held in contempt of court Van Voast told the judge she that understood that stripping in court was "out of line."
In the end she got away with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. So as long as she doesn't get busted with her bust out in the next six months the case will be dismissed. Meanwhile, we really would love to know how that stenographer described Van Voast's rack.
