Jail for Sagging Pants: Fashion Police?
We are a nation that pulls itself up by the bootstraps.
But are we also a nation that needs to pull up its pants?
A 17-year-old Florida boy was recently jailed overnight for violating a local “sagging pants” law after a police officer spotted him riding his bike with his pants slung low enough to reveal four or five inches of boxer shorts.
“Your Honor,” the boy’s public defender told the court, “We now have the fashion police.”
A Florida judge later declared the law unconstitutional, but that hasn’t deterred authorities in California, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Texas and other jurisdictions from proposing or enacting similar measures, arguing that the sagging fashion is akin to indecent exposure.
The style of wearing over-sized pants that sag to reveal large expanses of underwear started in prisons, where big pants were issued with no belts. In the 1990’s, the look seeped into the popular culture—and under the skin of politicians and police.
“We’re not going to sit here and let that happen in Flint,” declared the police chief of Flint, Michigan, where wearers of saggy pants can be arrested “if the pants are at the knees and your underwear is exposed.” He calls the look “disorderly” and “immoral self-expression.”
The south Chicago suburb of Lynwood, which also bans the buns look, claims the fad has gone so far as to effect economic growth and discourage businesses from investing in Lynwood.
ACLU attorneys counter, calling the laws “idiotic” and arguing that “You can’t arrest people because of their style of dress.”
Tell us what you think: Should government be responsible for dictating what citizens can wear? Is publically exposing your underwear freedom of expression, indecent exposure, or your personal responsibility?
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husband
yes they should be jailed men looks nasty when seeing there under wear, pants down to bottom of hips , they got to walk with there legs spreaded out so there pants stay up on them. this needs to stop now what has America come to
George Nicholas | 4 months ago
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saggy pants
I read that the style started in jail. If this is true I’d like some information on the subject. I did see a article on the subject but I can’t see to find it again.
Joan Anderson | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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I don't want to see that Nastiness
I agree with the ban on wearing sagging pants. I am a mother of 2 little girls and it is absolutely disgusting to see a young man wearing pants half way off their behinds. Not only will this give a negative look to the community they are residing in but it also causes others to sterotype these individuals as thugs and useless beings. How can an individual exposing their underwear on a regular basis be known as freedom of speech? What are you trying to say? This should be seen as unconstitutional on the grounds of obscenity. It is about time we teach our men to dress they way they want to be preceived. I can’t wait for women to be targeted for wearing clothes that are too revealing in public as well. Our streets should not be tainted with underwear, butt cracks, and butt cheeks.
Shamika Wilson | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hike them back up !!
My wife and I live in a town In New jersey where alot of kids where there pants like that.we are always telling them to pull them up cause we are tired of seeing there a_ _ crack..and besides it leaves a bad impression on the smaller grand kids..SO HIKE THEM UP
Dave G | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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A matter of decency
I have two teenage boys, and I think that we have good family structure, but they are still influence by their peer, and the media. Case in point, baggy/saggy pants, as parents we explain to them where that style came from, and how detestable it looks to have their underwear exposed. Many mornings as I dropped them off at school they see other boys walking like that, and they laugh because it looks so silly. However, ever so often I see my younger son doing the same. While it makes me sick to see this style of dressing, I think arresting is taking the issue too far. I would much prefer if the offenders were ticketed, with an appearance in court, and spend some time doing community service. I also would not have a problem with repeat offenders paying a fine for the courts time; but something must be done about this repulsive behavior from our young (and sometimes older) males.
Floridian | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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sagging of pants
Well I’ll tell you what i am a college student and sometimes i give tours of my school and and can tell you on more then one occasion i go to show parents classes in progress and students around, and there would be groups of kids, up in the 20s, all with their pants as low as their knees. It is very embarrassing trying to tell people how good a school is when you have people looking like that everywhere. It should AT LEAST be banned from all colleges and schools everywhere.
Joseph Arnett | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDE FREEDOM OF
I AM A MOTHER OF TWO BOYS, THE OLDEST ONE WEAR THE PANTS A LITTLE DOWN, THE YOUNGEST IS NOT MUCH INTO FASHION, YET. BUT I AM GLAD TO HAVE TWO GOOD SONS, THEY LOVE ME, THEY DO HAVE IDEALS, AND A GOAL IN LIFE. IS THAT IS THE WORST THEY DO, I CAN LIVE WITH IT. IT IS FUNNY THAT IN THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DISRECPECT OUR PRESIDENT (AN HONORABLE, HONEST, GOOD HEARTED MAN) THAT WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT IS THE LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY. STILL NOTHING HAPPENS TO THOSE THAT DO IT! IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT WILL BE CONSIDER A CRIME, THAT COULD BE PUNISH EVEN WITH DEATH. WE DO NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE “FREEDOM OF SPEECH” TEENAGERS ARE ADULTS IN THE MAKE, THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO BE GROWN UPS. DON’T WE REMEMBER THE BELT- BOTTOMS, THE LOW RIDERS, THE HIPPY STYLES, ACOMPANY BY OTHER PRACTICES THAT WE FIGHT FOR DURING OUR TEENAGE YEARS? WE LEARNED FROM OUR MISTAKES, LET THEM DO THE SAME! WE CAN HELP THEM SEE THE CORRECT WAY, BUT WE CANNOT IMPOSE OUR CHOICE OF CLOTHES, MUSIC, RELIGION, OR THE WAY THEY DO THINGS. A GIRL CAN BE EASILY RAPE WHEN USING PROVOCATIVE CLOTHES, EVEN WHEN IT CAN BE DANGEROUS WE DO NOT IMPOSE A JAIL REGULATION, PEOPLE GOES AROUND WITH STD DISEASES GET IN OTHERS SICK, NO ONE IS WORRY ABOUT THAT? OUR KIDS ARE GETTING INVOLVE IN CRIMES, IN VIOLENCE. IS NOT THAT MORE IMPORTANT? IS NOT EVERYONES DUTY TO TRY TO HELP, ORIENT, AND FIND WAYS TO KEEPS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BUSY DOING THE POSITIVE, INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON NEGATIVITY! JUST REMEMBER EACH YOUNG PERSON WE HELP TO RE-DIRECT FROM DOING WHAT IS WRONG TODAY, IS ONE LESS CRIMINAL THAT COULD PUT A GUN, OR A BULLET IN ANOTHER PERSONS HEART TOMORROW! PLEASE RESPECT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND INDIVIDUALITY!
A CONCERN MOM,
YOLANDA RAMOS | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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mine manager
I just don’t understand the baggy pants, and the hanging down of the pants so the underwear is showing. I’m in my mid 60’s and I was in prison awhile back, and the youngsters there were always trying to get me to pull my pants down, and I use to tell them no wonder they were in prison, they couln’t outrun the police. I just don’t see the style in it except it looks sloppy to me, and not cool.
Douglas Hill | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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it's time to take back control from our children
i will not sit here and lie about my four boys. 3 of the four wear loose pants but not to the point that they need to keep one hand free to pull them up every 10 seconds. they say it’s for comfort but i tottaly don’t understand why i need to see someones underwear just because they like to wear them under their bumm. just like today i was at the store and a couple were arguing and the man was swearing up a storm. why should my shopping be ruined. after a long nights work at the hospital with sometimes confused and combative patiens why if i am trying to destress from that do i need to listen to people using this bad language. this is why we are in the situation we are now in with our children. we can not spank them w can not talk harsh at them because we may go to jail. we have allowed our children to be disrespectful to us and any authority that get’s in their way. that is why we have so much crime, because these kids grow up to be rude adults. i know i have one that tries everything under the sky to try my patience. we need to be stricter, attentive and more loving towards our kids to show them the right way to behave. AND YES, I AM A CHRISTIAN for those who may ask. GOD bless.
rose hernandez | 3 months ago
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No self respect
It is unfortunate that government has to step in to regulate something like this. We need more parents who teach morals, values, and principles then government does not have to regulate.Then parents want to cry about others taking charge of the situation. Take care of your business at home first!
M.Jones | 3 months ago
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