Story Created:
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:59 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:59 PM EDT
APPENZELL, Switzerland (AP) - Voters in the heart of the Swiss Alps have banned naked hiking after dozens of mostly German nudists started rambling through their picturesque region.
By a show of hands citizens of the tiny canton (state) of Appenzell Inner Rhodes voted overwhelmingly at their traditional open-air annual assembly to impose a 200 Swiss franc ($176) fine on violators.
Only a scattering of people on Sunday opposed the ban on the back-to-nature activity that took off last autumn.
The cantonal government recommended the ban after determining that citizens had found nude hiking to be "thoroughly disturbing and irritating."
A similar legal move is expected in neighboring Appenzell Outer Rhodes with legislation being prepared against "this shameless behavior."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
