Baggy Pants Banned: Mayor Says 'Cover Up'

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Baggy Pants Banned; Mayor Says 'Cover Up'
Town Council Call Saggy Britches Obscene

Link to article: http://blacktown.net/messageboardfre...opic.php?t=121

DELCAMBRE, La. -- Overly saggy britches are obscene, the Delcambre Town Council says. So does Mayor Carol Broussard, who said he will sign an anti-sag ordinance passed unanimously this week.

The new indecent exposure ordinance in this Cajun-country town of about 2,000 carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for being caught in pants that show undergarments or, in the mayor's phrase, "private parts."

"I don't know if it will do any good, but it won't hurt," said Delcambre Councilman Albert Roy, who introduced the ordinance. "It's obvious, and anybody with common sense can see your parts when you wear sagging pants."

The meeting Monday night packed the small trailer that has been Town Hall since Hurricane Rita swept in six feet of storm surge on Sept. 24, 2005.

Low-hanging, baggy pants have become a fashion fad, mostly for young men in the hip-hop culture. Several residents objected that the ordinance targeted blacks.

Broussard denied any racial motivation. "White people wear sagging pants, too. Anybody who wears these pants should be held responsible."

Although Roy, who is black, introduced the ordinance, he said a $500 fine is outrageous: "I think it should be something like $25."

The ordinance states, "It shall be unlawful for any person in any public place or in view of the public to be found in a state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in dress not becoming to his or her sex, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior."

The law applies to women as well as men, the mayor said Wednesday. "If you expose some of your privates, the crack of your behind, if somebody feels insulted they should press charges. If you're offended by it, we want to straighten that out."

The clause about "dress not becoming to his or her sex" doesn't forbid cross-dressing, Broussard said. "A dress, I wouldn't find that obscene. As long as he covers himself and it's not too short."

The ordinance isn't needed because the state has an indecent exposure law, resident Sylvester Harris said during Monday's meeting. But town attorney Ted Ayo said the measure expands on the state law by adding underwear to the list of forbidden exposures.

"This is a new ordinance that deals specifically with sagging pants," Ayo said. "It's about showing off your underwear in public."

Town resident Adam George had another objection. "It's just going to be harassment," he said at the Monday meeting. "People that don't like me are going to call and complain on me and say I've got saggy pants. I'm going to have to pay to bond out, even if I'm right."

Police Chief James Broussard said he didn't have a problem with George's pants, which hung below his waist but were covered by a long T-shirt.

"It's not like I'm showing my privates or anything like that," George said. "It's my boxers."

Broussard's public advice for people who like their pants to hang low: "Just wear it properly. Cover your vital parts. I mean, if you expose your private parts, you'll get a fine. If you walk up and your pants drop, you get a fine. They're better off taking the pants off and just wearing a dress."

[prettysimple]

is more of an appropriate name for it! Im so tired of seeing these negros walking around showing their panties to everyone. Being a mother of two boys over 18, i wish it would have never started.

I do believe that it should be outlawed as long as it does'nt become racial profiling. If i wanted to look at some panties, i would go home and dance in front of the mirror

[Annette4u14]

No wonder our country is sooo messed up. We waste our time making ordinances on stupid things like a person's style of dress. What's wrong with seeing a "butt crack" every now and then? If you don't like it, just look away.
GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!!!

[Dream On]

Due to fact that some of the young men who are showing their butt crack don't understand that they can't dress that way for an interview with a corporate company; I don't have problem with it being outlawed.

[SuperFitBrother]

People,

The real issue about this is:

A) It came from jail!!! The reason guys in jail wear their pants hanging off their asses is so their man can get quick, easy access when they want sex.

B) Secondly, who in the hell wants to see someone's underwear? Unless "she's" fine and has a tight behind.

These "stupid" Negroes walk around with their pants halfway down their thighs. Some have even been caught after they committed crimes because they "fell down" trying to run with their paints hanging down to their ankles.(laughing)

Instead of banning pants hanging down, we NEED to ban STUPIDITY!!! That's the biggest problem facing mankind right now.

[Mahogany Love]

this sort of issues have been overlooked for far too long!

Our "Bright Eyes" need to be steered in the right direction. This starts with rules & regulations, if they don't get them at home they should for sure receive them when going to school, into the workplace, etc.

P.S. Feel free to log onto my website to find out the definition of "Bright Eyes" (read blog titled "Bright Eyes")

[LadyC1964]

I for one am glad to see someone deal with this...if people would just do right and just pull the pants up, laws like this would not have to be passed. Here in Winston-Salem, NC, there is a black Christian newspaper called The Phenonix that publishes a full-page ad with each publication on the origin of the baggy or sagging pants and encouraging all young men to stop dressing that way. Whatever happened to the days when African-Americans dressed with dignity? I am all for individualistic styles, but this right here is madness. As an African American woman, I am NOT attracted to a man whose pants sag or reveal his underwear or his behind!

Peace & Blessings,

LadyC1964

[grenetta b]

WHO THE HECK WANTS TO TO SEE A-CRACK WHILE THEIR IN THE MALL EATING. AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ON DIRTY UNDERWEAR AND HAVE THE NERVE TO SHAG.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY THAT IS MAKING MONEY OFF THESE CHILDRENS IGNORANCE. AND THE PARENTS THAT
GIVE THEM THE MONEY TO BUY THIS CRAP MAKE ME SICK.

HOW THE HECK ARE YOU GOING TO SEND YOUR CHILD OUT THE HOUSE WITH THERE PANTS FALLING OFF. PULL YOUR PANTS UP BEFORE I PULL THEM OVER YOUR HEAD. THAT'S THE LAW FOR MY HOUSE

[niki827]

It's about time. The saggy pants look is so trifling. As a people we need to know our history, the saggy pants look was started during the times of slavery, they had no choice in their attire. I wouldn't even attempt to speak to a man with his pants hanging off his butt. The sad thing is, I have seen a lot more young women following this pattern of wearing saggy pants. Sad, just plain sad!

[babyface_BR]

I can't stand the sagging pants myself. I just want to run up behind them and pull them up. They have them down so low, they can barely walk. Having said that, I think making it a law is a waste of time and will turn into harrassment and then that ridiculous fine...$500 and jail time. That's a bit much.