Legal Question in Criminal Law in Iowa

Indecent Exposure - wearing thong swimwear

I have read the Iowa statutes on indecent exposure and it is not clear to me whether it is illegal for a male to wear a thong swim suit in public such as at a beach or hotel. Please advise.


Asked on 12/12/05, 9:22 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

Re: Indecent Exposure - wearing thong swimwear

Here's the text of the statute. A lot would depend on the amount of exposure and whether people felt offended by it. It's probably wiser to avoid such behavior as you suggest.

Who wants to spend a day in court arguing with a judge or a prosecutor and risk being convicted of an offense with such an explosive potential for a person's record?

709.9 Indecent exposure.

A person who exposes the person's genitals or pubes to another not the person's spouse, or who commits a sex act in the presence of or view of a third person, commits a serious misdemeanor, if:

1. The person does so to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either party; and

2. The person knows or reasonably should know that the act is offensive to the viewer.

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Answered on 12/12/05, 11:36 am


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