Feb. 19, 2003 – Despite continued efforts by V.I. National Park rangers to put a stop to nudity at Salomon Beach in St. John, people continue to sunbathe and swim in the buff there, the park's chief ranger, Steve Clark, said Wednesday.
Just on Tuesday, Clark said, an older couple told him they were "appalled" to find nude people on the beach. And last Friday, a couple with two young children made a similar complaint. "They were shocked," he said.
It's an issue that people continually complain about, Clark said. He said that while many residents are aware that Salomon Beach is used by nude sunbathers, despite park efforts to put a halt to the practice, visitors are unaware of it until they see the situation for themselves.
"It's a public beach, folks," Clark said. Public nudity violates local laws as well as the park's rules. If you're caught, it will cost you a $100 fine.
Clark's remarks came as park Superintendent John King issued a list of the park's rules and regulations.
While in years past there were problems with people taking their dogs to the beach, Clark said, that now happens infrequently. "Either the people are new to the island or they didn't realize it was a rule," he said.
A ranger finding a dog on the beach for the first time will advise the owner of the rule. The second time, the ranger issues a ticket, called a citation in park parlance. The third time, the offending human must make an appearance in U.S. District Court on St. Thomas — "because you obviously didn't get the picture," Clark said.
Glass on beaches is another issue that rangers must address. Since the glass poses a safety hazard, rangers usually advise people about the rule. And generally, "The next day we see Joe and Marge from Atlanta with their beer in cans," Clark said.
Personal watercraft, often called Jet Skis, are another problem. Local businesses that rent the watercraft tell their customers they're not allowed to use them in park waters, but boaters often don't know about the rule.
Spearfishing also is prohibited, and offenders will get in big trouble if rangers catch them with a speargun. "Even to possess one is illegal," Clark said, noting that rangers will confiscate any such equipment that they find.
The same goes for underwater metal detectors. While using a metal detector on land is also against park rules, the rangers look closely to see whether the user is just out to get some exercise or is a professional looking for valuable objects. If it's a case of exercise, they'll be a bit more lenient, Clark said.
He also reminded residents and visitors that it's illegal to drive in the park with an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle.
And both drivers and passengers must wear seat belts.
And the park firearms range is for use of park rangers only.
The complete list of rules and regulations, available in printed form at the Visitor Center in Cruz Bay, is as follows.
Park prohibitions
The following are prohibited within the park:
– Glass containers of any kind on beaches.
– Possession and/or use of spearfishing equipment.
– Dogs on beaches.
– Water skiing within park waters.
– Use of personal watercraft (Jet Skis) within park waters.
– Open containers of alcoholic beverages in vehicles.
– Nudity/exposure of private parts. There are no clothing-optional beaches within park boundaries.
– Possession and/or use of a metal detector.
– Building of fires on beaches. This does not pertain to the grills provided by the park at various beaches.
– Operating a motor vehicle without due care or at a speed greater than that which is reasonable.
– Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
– Engaging in or soliciting any business in any park area.
– Operating a bicycle on any park trail.
Vessel regulations
Following are rules regarding the operating of vessels in the park.
– There is a three-hour maximum stay for anchoring of vessels under 60 feet in the Cruz Bay Creek area near the park boat ramp.
– Vessels using the Cruz Bay finger pier are limited to 15 minutes to load and unload passengers.
– Vessels over 60 feet in overall length are not permitted to use a park mooring.
– Vessels between 60 and 125 feet in overall length may anchor in North Shore bays in sand seaward of the mooring fields.
– Private vessels between 125 and 210 feet may anchor only in sand seaward of park moorings and at depths greater than 50 feet. Such anchoring is limited to Francis Bay shoreward of a line from Mary Point to America Point.
– Vessels with an overall length greater than 210 feet may not anchor within park waters.
– Vessels are not permitted to anchor within 200 feet of any mooring or within 100 feet of any regulatory buoy.
– Vessels less than 26 feet in length may access park beaches where channels have been designated by red and green buoys to drop off or pick up passengers. They many not anchor in the channels.
– Rafting up on park moorings is prohibited.
Clark urged anyone with a complaint or a comment to call him at 776-6201, ext. 254.

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