Boats and Bikinis: What Washington Law Says About “Flashing”

I saw a recent posting from my hometown of Clarkston, Washington, where boaters were "flashing" passing boats on the Snake River.

Public Water, Private Parts? Here’s What Washington Law Says

I think I recall as a kid being on my dad's boat and getting "mooned," but I didn't think much of it since I was in 5th grade and at that age, almost anything with naked body parts is amusing.

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According to an article from dailyfly.com, the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office received complaints of indecent behavior on the Snake River near Cottonwood Creek.

Can You Flash People From Your Boat in Washington? Let’s Clear It Up!

The article continues and explains that several boaters were flashing passing boats, so the Sheriff's Department wrote citations to nine of the boaters.

Some see it as good fun, others didn't take it that way, and it resulted in citations.

So what about Washington State?

Under RCW 9A.88.010, indecent exposure is illegal in Washington. The law says it’s a crime to intentionally make any open or obscene exposure of yourself in a public place.

That includes boats, lakes, rivers, and shorelines, since those are all considered public spaces or visible from them.

So, even if you’re out on the Columbia River or Lake Chelan, if someone can see you from shore or another vessel, it can still count as public indecency.

It might be tempting after getting a few beers in your belly, but I'd rethink that in Washington State.

It’s typically a gross misdemeanor (punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine), but it can become a felony if it involves a child under 14 years old, so some would say it's just not worth it for a joke.

The boaters in Idaho discovered that.

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