Baggy pants ban "unconstitutional," rules US judge
Tue Sep 16, 2:02 PM ET
A Florida judge has deemed unconstitutional a law banning baggy pants that show off the wearer's underwear, local media reported Tuesday.
A 17-year-old spent a night in jail last week after police arrested him for wearing low pants in Riviera Beach, southeast Florida.
The law banning so-called "saggy pants" was approved by city voters in March after supporters of the bill collected nearly 5,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
The teen would have received a 150 dollars fine or community service, but he spent the night in jail due to a history of marijuana use, the Palm Beach Post newspaper said.
"Somebody help me," said Palm Beach Circuit Judge Paul Moyle, before giving his decision.
"We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No! We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest and the basis is he's then held overnight, no bond."
"Your honor, we now have the fashion police," added public defender Carol Bickerstaff, who asked the law be declared "unconstitutional."
The judge agreed with Bickerstaff immediately, reported the Post.
Laws that ban low-slung pants are on the books in several US cities, including Delcambre, Louisiana, where offenders can be fined up to 500 dollars or jailed for up to six months.
Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia are among the larger US cities considering similar measures.
Now here's what I have to say about that:
I am not a particular fan of saggy, baggy jeans. In fact, I find the whole sagging phenomena slightly ridiculous, wholly impractical and aesthetically unpleasing. But so what? What difference does it make what I think of them? If I don't want to wear sagging jeans I am under no obligation to wear them. If I don't like the way they look, tough shit!
Let's be clear: the main reason people get so upset about sagging is not because it is unattractive (which is a matter of opinion) nor is it because they are indecent. What difference does it make how much cloth is covering your ass if your ass is covered? Is the cotton used to make underwear somehow less decent than the cotton used to make jeans? Could the reason sagging upsets people be because it's perceived as being too black?
The people who would pass laws telling you what you can and cannot wear, ironically the very same people who will tell you that they are against big government interfering in their lives, are also the people who would pass laws determining what books you can read, what movies can see, what music you can listen too and who you can sleep with. If these people had their way you would not be reading this and "deviants" like me- and probably you- would not be allowed to walk the streets. Believe it.
