Sagging Pants Law

[jmarie]

Poll
question is: "Do Sagging Pants bother you?"

‘Pull ’em up or pay up’ is new law in Mansfield
August 13, 2007
On the Web:

By Vickie Welborn
vwelborn@gannett.com

MANSFIELD — “Pull ‘em up or pay up.”

That’s Police Chief Don English’s interpretation of a new law that takes effect in Mansfield on Sept. 15

Anyone caught wearing sagging pants who exposes his or her underwear will be subject to a fine of up to $150 plus court costs, or face up to 15 days in jail.

Mansfield aldermen voted unanimously at today’s 4:30 p.m. meeting to enact the new law.

The law makes it illegal to found in a “state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior.”

City attorney Richard Z. Johnson Jr. said he used a similar law in Delcambre as a guideline in creating Mansfield’s ordinance. Several municipalities and parish governments in Louisiana have enacted similar laws in recent months.


©The Times
August 13, 2007

[do-lolly]

Sagging pants do bother me, but not enough to make a law about it. I find that a bit extreme and wonder once you draw a line that, where will it stop.

I've noticed a disturbing trend as of late. It used to be that people wore their saggy pants and spent all of their time tugging them up, or holding them at the waist. I've noticed recently that the guys are now holding them up by the crotch. It looks positively ridiculous, to see this young man, saggy pants and holding on to his package for dear life. LOL

This year our public schools have enacted a dress code in which the boys and girls have to wear shirts tucked with a belt. I'm o.k. with that, but a law is just crazy.

[MikeC]

Well, I live in Baltimore. I'd much rather have the police force trying to deal with our homicide rate instead of dealing with sagging pants!!

[sneezles]

As a mother of white boys who've no idea (at least at the time they were wearing their britches so low), the significance of the thing, it doesn't bother me. If it bothered me and I spoke out about it then it would just reinforce the situation. I, and friends, found it quite amusing when b-ball players would try and wear them so low that it impeded their game.:rolleyes: then you'd watch the coach go ballistic...everything that goes around comes around! Or maybe I should say "Stupid is as stupid does!";)

[Jazzmatazz49]

It totally bothers me, but a law? Please.

[lindrusso]

Personally I think that saggy pants look incredibly stupid, but it's definitely NOT something I want lawmakers spending time and/or tax money on!

And that's not the only problem. Look at the wording....

Are they going to start fining women if their bra straps are showing? Within the definition of the law it seems like they could - “state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior.” That statement is way too broad and leaves way too much room for potential abuse..........

[beacooker]

That sounds exactly like the kind of law the Taliban would have. There have GOT to be better things for law enforcement to be doing than monitoring people's underwear.

[gertdog]

Are they going to start fining women if their bra straps are showing? Within the definition of the law it seems like they could - “state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior.” That statement is way too broad and leaves way to much room for potential abuse..........

I thought the same thing. Visible bra straps, a shirt that is cut too low in front revealing "too much" cleavage- too much room for interpretation there.

That said, the saggy baggy pants look ridiculous to me.

[LittleBrownCat]

I see people wearing lots of things (male and female) that bother me, but I don't think we should be legislating against it. Maybe what we need is a civilian force, who would have the authority to send people home to change for a first offense; repeat offenders would get sent straight to Stacy and Clinton (http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/whatnottowear/whatnottowear.html) for fashion boot camp. :p



eta: I'd love to be a fly on the wall the first time they try to enforce that law!

[ChristyMarie]

It totally bothers me, but a law? Please.

My thoughts exactly. I'm sure my fashion choices as a teen bothered some people as well.

[LakeMartinGal]

I don't enjoy the saggy pants look, but it doesn't bother me to the extent that I think there should be a law! What a time-waster for law enforcement! Schools should have the dress policy thing, probably, but really! That's ridiculous!:rolleyes:

[TKay]

They do bother me because they cause me anxiety. As in, isn't that bugging you that your pants are hanging around your thighs like that? Isn't it uncomfortable?
I think it's crazy that people think that looks cool, but to each his/her own. I not a big fan of the muffin-top bellies girls let hang over their tight jeans, but I digress.
I think the law is going overboard.

[carolinagirl77]

I think there should be a law against making laws to address dress codes that parents should handle for minors and that adults should have the common sense to address for themselves. Frankly, it's a waste of tax dollars. I really don't care if your pants sag or not. I have the choice to look the other way as long as your "package" itself is not showing! Just a perfect example of how our government in general has deteriorated!

[alinnell]

I don't mind the sagging if it shows only a small smidgen of undies underneath. It's when the underwear band is ON TOP of the butt and the pants band is UNDERNEATH the butt that it gets totally disgusting. You know what I mean, right? The entire butt region is covered by only underwear. The pants are actually riding around the thighs. How on earth do these guys even walk?

[Jessnc]

I think that saggy pants are indeed a "fashion crime," but not something that should actually be illegal. Saggy pants have bothered me for years. I don't know why anyone thinks that they look good like that. It is quite a repulsive style.

Sounds like no one in this town should put a bathing suit on either.....

[Jazzmatazz49]

My cop acquaintances have talked about how sagging pants often help them catch the perp. You just can't run when you're lassoed around the ankles.:D