Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Topless Woman Busted By Cops Bares Boobs In Court
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 13, 2011
Modified Oct 13, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Oct 13, 2011
Modified Oct 13, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Though we're all born naked, some people (and cops) aren't comfortable around naked bodies, especially boobies. And though it is totally legal to go topless on the street, it isn't everywhere. So what's a lady ticketed for being topless in Grand Central to do? Why, go to court and strip, of course! What's more, when Holly Van Voast did just that yesterday she managed to make it work out just fine.
According to the Times, yesterday "Van Voast, 45, stripped in front of, among others, Judge Rita Mella, her octogenarian lawyer and a stenographer who most likely had little idea what to type." After she disrobed, "It was like, 'What do we do now?'" a court officer recalled.
Van Voast (who some of our readers might know as flickr user lensjockey) apparently likes to take off her clothes "to express her frustration with stigmas against public nudity." Because she feels "that any form of nudity should be protected," she said. Anyway, after being threatened with being held in contempt of court Van Voast told the judge she that understood that stripping in court was "out of line."
In the end she got away with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. So as long as she doesn't get busted with her bust out in the next six months the case will be dismissed. Meanwhile, we really would love to know how that stenographer described Van Voast's rack.
Tagged
boobs
court
holly van voast
lensjockey
topless
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park
People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
News
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .