BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A group of nudists in Brevard County are asking commissioners to stop what they consider police harassment at sections of Playlinda Beach.

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Dozens of people, some carrying signs saying "Nude Beaches -- Yes," attended a county zone meeting Thursday night to protest an increase in sheriff's deputies patrolling the federal beaches to enforce a county law banning nudity.

Currently, a 12-year-old anti-nudity law makes it a crime to go nude at the beaches.

Some meeting participants said going nude at the beach is a spiritual experience and said they felt as though they were being discriminated against, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

Jon Peterson, 62, of Palm Bay, said assigning deputies to patrol the federal beach was a waste of money.

"They are driving 14 miles one way to tell someone to put their clothes on," he said.

Several claimed the sheriff's helicopter has been sent to fly over the beach looking for nudists.

Sheriff's officials have said the patrols increased after complaints came in about nudity at the northern section of the beach, which is historically, but not officially, known as clothing-optional.

Commissioner Truman Scarborough said a number of the questions raised by the naturists were brought up and answered when the ordinance was drafted 13 years ago. He asked county staff to prepare a report on those earlier discussions.

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