SAN DIEGO – Nudists who congregate at the remote southern end of San Onofre State Beach can still let it all hang out, at least for a while longer.

A tentative ruling Tuesday by an Orange County judge has halted plans by the state Parks and Recreation Department to crack down on nudity after Labor Day.

“We've got them pinned back,” said Allen Baylis, president of the Friends of San Onofre Beach, a group dedicated to preserving the nudist tradition at the San Diego County beach.

In June, state parks officials announced they were ending a three-decade-old practice of allowing nude beachgoers to use what is known as Trail 6 beach.

Parks officials said they intended, beginning Sept. 2, to cite or arrest beachgoers who refused to heed posted warnings prohibiting nudism.

The Naturist Action Committee, a national pro-nudist group, filed a lawsuit claiming the state could not unilaterally change a state policy without first holding a public hearing. In addition, the suit said, parks officials must codify the new rules through the state's Office of Administrative Law.

In her preliminary ruling, Superior Court Judge Shelia Fell sided with the naturists and ordered the state to “maintain the status quo.”

Lawyers for both parties are scheduled to appear in court in Orange County Wednesday to deliver oral arguments on the ruling.

Nudism is not technically legal at California's state beaches. However, since 1978, the department's policy has been to leave nudists alone unless a complaint from the public is received.

Ultimately, state parks officials may still be able to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against nudity at San Onofre, but their path now contains more steps.

“This puts a huge speed bump in their way,” Baylis said.

Parks officials said strict enforcement of nudity laws was necessary to deter lewd conduct by people attracted to the permissive atmosphere at the beach. Action had to be taken, they said, because the illegal sexual activity had created a hostile and “sexually charged” workplace detrimental to park employees.

The naturists say they have cooperated for decades with state parks officials to deter sexual activity at the beach and its bluff-top trail.

“This is all about freedom,” said Baylis. “It has nothing to do with sex.”

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