Topless crusader Linda Meyer isn't entirely happy with a ruling by the Vancouver police board about dealing with topless women in public. As the Straight went to press, Meyer was scheduled to speak about her concerns before the board's regular meeting on March 14.

A February 27 board letter to Meyer stated that "public female toplessness does not meet the test for criminal indecency" and therefore isn't an indecent act. The same letter indicated that police should not question or detain topless people, "but only in the absence of any other offending behaviour".

"'Offending behaviour' is subjective and vague," Meyer told the Straight . "What do they mean by 'offending behaviour'"

She said that although the board instructed the Vancouver police department to leave topless people alone, it left the interpretation of offending behaviour "to the imagination of the individual police officer".

Meyer sought a ruling from the board last year after she was accosted by cops while going about topless in downtown Vancouver.

And if the Maple Ridge resident decides to take a dip in one of Vancouver's public pools and beaches, she won't have any trouble as far as two female park board commissioners are concerned.

Korina Houghton, NPA board vice-chair, told the Straight that current park bylaws concerning proper attire in public bathing places are open to interpretation. "If we were to exclude topless women from our beaches and pools, we would have to be specific about that in our bylaws," she said.

COPE Comm. Loretta Woodcock make the same point as Houghton, but also offered words for Meyer. "She can utilize her energies better," Woodcock said. "There's way more important things to advocate for."