A bill awaiting Gov. Tom Vilsack’s signature would impose strict penalties on those who use camera-equipped cell phones to photograph unsuspecting individuals who are nude or partially nude.

House File 561 states, in part, “a person who knowingly views, photographs, or films another person — without their consent or knowledge — while the other person is in a state of full or partial nudity, commits invasion of privacy.”

Camera phones are a relatively new technology, which legislators say can be used in possibly inappropriate ways.

Two local fitness centers, the Lied Recreation Athletic Center and the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, have instituted new policies preventing the use of such phones in locker rooms, where pictures could be taken of nude or partially nude people without their knowledge.

Brad Barker, employee at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center and senior in exercise and sport science, said the facility has a strict camera phone policy.

“We don’t allow camera phones in locker rooms and restrooms, and bringing camera phones everywhere else [in the gym] is strongly discouraged,” Barker said.

Barker said he did not know of any specific incidents concerning improper use of camera phones in the building.

“[The professional staff] just realized it was a potential problem before it became a problem,” Barker said.

Tom Durkin, general manager of the Ames Racquet and Fitness Center, said his facility has had a similar policy in place since the beginning of the year.

“As of January of 2004, my insurance came out, and they recommended that we post signs saying that no camera phones were allowed in the locker room,” Durkin said.

He said before the policy was in place, he did not witness any difficulty with camera phones in the locker rooms, and doesn’t anticipate there will be any in the future.

“It’s a problem [for insurance companies] from a liability standpoint, such as an accident, or someone who could take advantage of the situation. They’re just trying to get ahead of the game, but I don’t foresee this becoming an issue,” Durkin said.

There have been no customers who have talked to him about the policy at the facility, he said, and it seems no one has a problem with it.

“I think everyone understands it makes sense, that it’s for everyone’s protection,” Durkin said.

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said he supported House File 561.

“Do I want people sneaking into locker rooms and taking embarrassing photos of other people? Absolutely not. So there is a point to this bill,” Quirmbach said.

He said it is common sense when people are in locker rooms, they expect privacy. He said he hasn’t heard anyone in the community complain about the bill, which he said has passed through both the Iowa Senate and House without any controversy.

“I think when it gets to [Gov. Vilsack’s] desk, he is likely to sign it. It passed the House a year ago 96-0,” Quirmbach said.