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Florida Mom Arrested For Wearing Wet T-Shirt at Water Park
Now when we moms take our kids to a public water park, we can obsess about more than just the overpriced admission charges and bad food. There’s a new worry: Will we will be arrested if we get wet and our t-shirt and bra is deemed too provocative for toddler eyes?
Such was the fate that met Florida mom Janet Lovett, who concluded a spring day at the Tavares Splash Park with her seven-year-old autistic son by spending five hours in jail.
The saga begins with the prudish or clueless employees of the park, who say Lovett was a three time offender when it came to her t-shirt getting soaked at the popular attraction, resulting in her bra showing through her clothing. When police were summoned, they demanded Lovett reveal her identification for a “city data base.” There seems to be some confusion of what happened next. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Lovett told officers only her first name, saying she had committed no crime and did not legally need to tell police her name. However, the Examiner is reporting that the Peruvian native, who is not fluent in English, was leaving the park to change her clothing when approached by police. Nervous, she said her identification was in her car and asked to speak to her husband, who had remained in the play area.
In either case, the next thing Lovett knew police were putting handcuffs on her and taking her off to jail. She ultimately had to pay a $1,500 fine.
Lovett’s now hired an attorney, and plans to sue the city for malicious prosecution, false arrest, battery and violation of her civil rights. Her attorney, who claims Lovett was covered by a towel, says he believes that Lovett was targeted because police might have suspected she was an illegal immigrant, which she is not.
So what do you think? Is a wet t-shirt and bra really any more provocative than the permitted bikini top? Does it make a difference if the t-shirt is white? Would a Caucasian woman have been arrested for the same offense as Lovett? Should Lovett has simply exercised common sense and put on a bathing suit before the third offense?
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0 Comments
BlackOrchid commented on Aug 10 10 at 10:12 amnot really a comment about the story – but yay Logan Square Fountain!
LogicalMama commented on Aug 10 10 at 12:54 pmThis is ridiculous! I can’t believe that the police were called for a wet t-shirt! Don’t they have anything better to do? I definitely think this was racial profiling at it’s most despicable… a mother at a park with her son, trying to stave off the heat and have some fun!
TC commented on Aug 10 10 at 1:56 pmNeed more information before I call the race card.
Amy commented on Aug 10 10 at 2:08 pmAt least she was wearing a bra! If she was trying to do something inappropriate on purpose, wouldn’t she have left that off? Just saying. . kind of silly. Some of the swimsuits I see are totally SEE THRU for goodness sake! And, maybe the woman doesn’t even own a swimsuit. I have seen lots of people enjoying the water in their clothes because they either don’t own a suit or it was a spur of the moment decision. It’s hot! Cool off! Hydrate! (maybe lighten up?!)
jenny tries too hard commented on Aug 10 10 at 2:32 pmFlorida. Seriously.
JEssica commented on Aug 10 10 at 2:36 pmNot sure if racially motivated, but an inappropiate reaction by the park employees and the police. In florida, people should protest by not going to the park.
Gretchen Powers commented on Aug 10 10 at 3:59 pmholy Taliban in America…
Voice of Reason commented on Aug 10 10 at 11:37 pmJust be thankful it wasn’t a *nursing* bra – she’d still be rotting in jail.
mj commented on Aug 11 10 at 8:05 pmI don’t know what kind of bra a previous poster was thinking of, but nursing bras are big ol’ ugly things. They’re not skimpy at all. Maybe they’re thinking of those open-front bras? And speaking of nursing, you can openly nurse, and, basically, it’s illegal for anyone to harass you. They can’t ask you to cover up or head to the bathroom or anything. So I don’t see how they can arrest anyone, even if they had no bra on. I know it’s not nursing, but… what of she got caught in the rain? If I go to the store, and it rains, and you can see my bra, will I be arrested? What are the charges? Could she have maybe been fighting them or something, and that got her arrested?
K. commented on Aug 12 10 at 1:37 amMaybe she was out running errands and decided on a whim to bring the kiddos. I don’t carry my swimming suit with me everywhere – does everyone else? Plus, the last time I was in FL there were women in thongs EVERYWHERE. Butt skin vs. something more modest than the victoria’s secret commercials… but then again these people voted Jeb Bush into office so we are not speaking of highly intelligent individuals.
jimbo commented on Aug 22 10 at 1:07 amComments I would have to see some photos, to decide!
Bonnie commented on Aug 30 10 at 8:50 pmI don’t care if she was wearing NO bra. This is outrageous. In some states, it is legally acceptable for a woman to go around topless, not that any of us do it. Being arrested for having a wet t-shirt, really? Florida really is one of the dumbest states in America.
Jay De1 commented on Sep 01 10 at 2:57 pmComments If this is such a bad thing then next up is arrest all of the plumbers who show off plumbers crack in other peoples homes!
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