Pants on the ground?
Pull them up fast if you’re in Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, where a new law
bans the low-slung, undies-exposing jeans look popularized by hip-hop culture.
Terrebonne Parish City Council of Florida on Wednesday prohibits people from wearing pants, the
council put a ban on the longstanding fashion trend that hang below the waist
in public, exposing underwear or skin,
The ban states that
violators of the new ordinance, a $50 fine could come into play as well as
doing community service. It was almost a unanimous vote; one that came down to
an 8-1 vote. Terrebonne Parish Councilwoman Beryl Amedee was the only member who
voted against the ordinance, claiming it violates Americans’ constitutional
right to free expression. There have been other bans for saggy pants in six
Louisiana cities, as well as one in Florida and Georgia.
The ban, approved on Wednesday was expected to be signed
into law this week, targets the public wearing of pants and oddly skirts that
hang “below the waist” and “expose the skin or undergarments.” Violators will
be spanked with fines: $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $100
plus sixteen hours of public service for each subsequent offense.
“Hopefully, it’ll get these young men to pull up their
pants,” council member Russell Hornsby
Hornsby’s colleague John Navy proposed the ordinance, and
explained to Yahoo! Shine that many constituents had called upon the council to
do something about what has apparently become a widespread saggy pants problem.
The ban was approved at an April 10, 2013, Parish council meeting by a vote of
8-1 and is expected to soon be signed into law by council president Michel
Claudet.
Navy, though, said he did not know why the approved law said
“below the waist,” and seemed confused by that wording when asked about it. “My
understanding was that it was below the butt. I need to look at that again,” he
said. “If it’s below your butt and underwear is showing, that’s not proper.”
But, Hornsby added, “The problem is our young men are
emulating prisoners. It sends a sign that you’re available for sex. It’s a bad
example to set.”
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