Disrespect or laziness?

They just don't know any better. We are from Virginia Beach and everyone that comes to visit walks around in a bathing suit. It is probably the same in all beach towns.

Are there signs posted that tell them what is permitted, I've seen some pretty small clothing attire that's more revealing than a T Shirt and a swim suit bottom.;)

used to be a law on st. croix that one is not permitted to wear bathing suit in towns...it was posted as well...if police saw you in a bathing suit or skimpy, they would ask you to go change...mostly it was the tourists that did it, as everyone that lived there knew the law...maybe the law has changed now. to me it is an issue of respect...respect for yourself and others, to be properly attired. i am not a prude either.

The law still exists, and it is written in the tourist books they hand out.

It's still a law on the books that one must be clothed in town...it's a matter of beachwear is for the beach, but, in town, you need to be dressed properly...just like in the States you see a lot of "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" signs, but most people just ignore them up there, unless walking into a store or place of business. (why they think it's OK to do here is beyond me) Tourists here on STT get told to put on a T-shirt if the man is topless, or the woman is in a bikini top...a man with a button-down shirt has to have at least one button buttoned...outside town it's OK.. Tthe police years ago used to do what we called 'courtesy arrests', which is where they gave them a free ride back to the ship to get a shirt if they didn't have one to put on...but that's not happened in a long time...especially with people selling T-shirts 4 for $10! Haha! But, if pushed, the police can and will still issue indecent exposure tickets ($25, last I knew).

A lot of things seem to no longer have signs (like some if the one-way streets). We got a stern talking to by a police officer when trying to get away from Jump Up last night, but no guidance. How are newbies and tourists to know!?

So if one wears a T Shirt and swim suit bottom, that's not enough cover to comply with the law?:$)

Sorry I forgot, but the last jump up that I was at in STX, I saw an awful lot of pierced belly buttons , Bebe shorts and tied shirts above the rib cage.

It would seem to be common courtesy for visitors or anyone else to throw on a coverup. It's usually the ones you don't care to see in bathing suit anywhere that do it, too.

It amazes me when I see women walking in C'sted ina bathing suit bottom with a tee shirt on!

It amazes me when I see a man walking through town wearing a wifebeater and drinking a heineken.

What's a wifebeater?:S

Oh you and my husband .... it's an undershirt. The ones with no sleeves in a light weight ribbed material.

Pamela

Just in case anyone is interested in the Law, Google Virgin Islands Code Annotated Title Fourteen, Crimes, Chapter 51. Indecency. 1022 obscene and indecent conduct.

Much to large to type, but it's reference is Bathing Costume in town.,a T Shirt does the trick. I better not see them pierced Belly Button's that's covered too, So is profanity.

Disrespect or laziness? Just pure-D ignorance. :X

What's the pure-D stand for:S

Sorry, must be a Southern U.S. expression -- used instead of saying "damn". 😉

Today was a good day! I learned what a wifebeater is and What pure-d stands for. Also the law does not refer to a bikini top but a bathing costume. However I have to agree with Tammy, most offenders are tourists and what they wear on the board walk in shore towns on the big island is what they will wear on STX that has a boardwalk. Some signage wouldn't hurt (cover up required in all public places.) I've been at the beach at Hotel on the Cay and the women from some countries take their tops off. I Know the majority of people will follow the old saying when in Rome do as the Romans.:D

Cottage-Cheesed legs with varicose veins are a helluvalot nicer looking than all the trash, bums, and hookers I see every day in Csted.

And about this fabled Cruciian "prudishness." It's a myth promoted by tourbooks to keep tourist from getting sunburned and thus unable to spend money. I'd offer a list to support my ascertain, but I don't want to go off topic, except to say that the prevalence of local cleavage on display across St. Croix is downright distracting, ...especially when you're with your wife.

Today there was a woman dressed in what my wife described as a "crazy looking Banana suit" standing all by herself on the concrete pedestal at the entrance to the Ft. Christian parking lot ---banging a blue tambourine with a yellow cross on it. I said to my wife, "the woman obviously lost a bet."

I don't know her story but she didn't lose a bet....unless she loses them often. She wears the most colorful - and crocheted - outfits and you often see her around the fort or in Gallows Bay. Quite the character.

The only other place that I have seen this type of dress ( and its accepted there) is Venice California.

"And about this fabled Cruciian "prudishness." It's a myth promoted by tourbooks to keep tourist from getting sunburned and thus unable to spend money. I'd offer a list to support my ascertain, but I don't want to go off topic..."
Sorry, Neil, but here is the actual law:

§ 1022. Obscene and indecent conduct

Whoever—

(a) (1) exposes his person or the private parts thereof in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby, or who exposes himself or takes part in any model artist exhibition, or makes any other exhibition of himself to public view or to the view of any number of persons, such as is offensive to decency, or is adapted to excite lewd or vicious thoughts or acts; or who shall appear upon any public street or thoroughfare within town limits of any town in the Virgin Islands in bathing costume or any similarly abbreviated attire such as to offend public decency;

(2) procures, counsels, or assists any person so to expose himself, or to take part in any model artist exhibition, or to make any other exhibition of himself to public view or to the view of any number of persons, such as is offensive to decency, or is adapted to excite to lewd or vicious thoughts or acts;

(3) writes, composes, stereotypes, prints, publishes, sells, distributes, keeps for sale, or exhibits any obscene or indecent writing, paper or books; or designs, copies, draws, engraves, paints, or otherwise prepares any obscene or indecent picture or print; or molds, cuts, casts, or likewise makes any obscene or indecent figure;

(4) writes, composes, or publishes any notice or advertisement of any such writing, paper, book, picture, print, or figure;

(5) sings any lewd or obscene song, ballad, or uses any lewd or obscene words over any radio station located in or operating within the Virgin Islands, or in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby;

(6) uses vile and obscene language in public streets or places or in private places so as to seriously disturb the peace; or

(7) urinates or defecates in public places—

shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.

(b) For purposes of this section, a woman's breast-feeding a child in any public or private location where the woman's presence is otherwise authorized does not under any circumstance constitute obscene or indecent conduct.

—Amended June 12, 1959, No. 475, § 3, Sess. L. 1959, p. 85; June 24, 1963, No. 1030, § 1, Sess. L. 1963, p. 393; Sept. 18, 2002, No. 6570, § 49, Sess. L. 2002, p. 546.

Why don't they arrest the guys who pee on the side of the road?

Probably because the jail would fill up!

You're right!

I was in a place of business 2 weeks ago and two guys entered the business to escape the heat, sweating and not wearing shirts. One of the employees went over and politely told them to put shirts on and then she would be happy to assist them. She also suggested that they do the same anywhere else in town (STT). They seemed appalled at her request and unfortunately will probably go back home and blog about how rude the locals are. Sad how many people just don't get it. People are wearing business attire and somehow you feel it right to come in shirtless.