Retro swimsuits are certainly coming back in style, but most of the popular vintage designs still wouldn't adhere to the rules set in place in 1922. Back then swimsuit police roamed the boardwalks, making sure the hem of your bathing dress wasn't too risqué.

This photograph, originally taken by the National Photo Company, was recently given a recolorized makeover by redditor kibblenbits, also known as Patty Allison.

According to the Library of Congress, the image shows Washington's own swimsuit policeman Bill Norton measuring the distance between women's knees and the bathing suits at Tidal Basin beach. Norton was just following orders from Colonel Sherrell, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds in the area, who issued a rule that suits not be over six inches above the knee.

