Dutchess County Woman Refuses to Stop Gardening While Topless

A Hudson Valley woman will continue to garden with her shirt off, and she says there's nothing anyone can do about it.

The New York Post reports that Red Hook resident, Jenica Igoe, has filed a civil lawsuit against The Village of Red Hook, claiming that her rights were violated when she was arrested for tending to her garden with her top off.

Igoe says she enjoys working outside with her shirt off, and she should be allowed to go topless when it's warm out just like men do. And New York State Law says that she's absolutely right. It's been legal for women to be topless in New York since 1992, but apparently the Village of Red Hook never got the memo.

Village of Red Hook police officer, Travis Sterritt, arrested Igoe and now she's suing him and the Village in federal court. According to paperwork filed in White Plains this week the 30-year-old topless gardener just wants to have the same rights as men. "Like many people, including millions of men, she prefers to be topless in the summer heat while performing work outdoors."

It's likely that the Village of Red Hook will be forced to shell out quite a bit of money for the arrest. Back in 2005 a woman successfully sued the City of New York after she was arrested for being topless in Times Square. She was awarded $29,000. Igoe, on the other hand, wasn't standing in a crowded city intersection. She was simply minding her own business on her own private property.

It's unclear how what damages Igoe is seeking with her lawsuit, but whatever it is she appears to have the law on her side.

We want to know what you think. Was the Village of Red Hook wrong to arrest Igoe? Or do you think she needs to stop gardening while topless? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.