I wouldn't say I came into work today thinking about whether a woman can ride a bicycle topless around town or not but that's where we are right now. After seeing a news story on a topless Minneapolis woman last night I decided to ask the Faribault Police Department if there was an ordinance on topless cycling for women.

In an email exchange with Faribault Police Captain Jason Severson today I asked whether Faribault had its own indecent exposure ordinance and whether or not a woman could cycle topless in town. Severson's response to the question was:

The city does not have an indecent exposure ordinance and we would refer to MN Statute 617.23

Minnesota Statute 617.23, deals with indecent exposure, and it states indecent exposure in Minnesota as willfully and lewdly exposes the person’s body, or the private parts therof; in any public place, or in any place where others are present, is guilty of a misdemeanor:

So based on this statute, Severson stated that the Faribault Police Department "would enforce the statute if it occurred in public, with the exception of breastfeeding."

As for the Minneapolis woman who cycles topless? Helena Howard told KARE-11 that "They're just nipples" and that she doesn't "think it's all that different from a man being topless." Howard plans to have a topless ride this Sunday at 6:30 in NE Minneapolis, you can watch the whole story below.

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