Articles
Local Lawmakers Consider Ban on “Sagging Pants”
Local lawmakers in Georgia and Louisiana are considering whether to add or amend indecent exposure ordinances to include a ban on pants worn below the waist that reveal undergarments.
Proposal in Louisiana
Mansfield city alderman are the latest local lawmakers in Louisiana to consider what is commonly referred to as the “sagging pants law.” Similar laws have already been enacted in several other municipalities and parish governments throughout the state.
If passed, the proposed law in Mansfield would make it illegal to wear low-rider pants that expose underwear. Some of those in favor of the law argue that sagging pants allow for the concealment of weapons; others say pants that sag are a safety hazard.
Man in Georgia Seeks Ban
Sagging pants are also at issue in Forsyth and Monroe counties in Georgia, where a former employee of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is asking local lawmakers to amend or adopt indecent exposure ordinances to ban the trouser trend.
Forsyth Councilman Hal Clarke said the ordinance committee would discuss the issue at its next meeting. He added, however, that enforcing such a law would be difficult.
“I don’t think how people wear their pants is something we want to be dictating, unless they are exposing their naked behinds,” Clarke said.
Commissioner Larry Evans also expressed concern over trying to enforce a ban on sagging pants.
“It would be up to the interpretation of the law enforcement officials if the pants were too low or too much of their behinds showed. We could be sued and have to go all the way to the Supreme Court to decide something like that. We can’t afford fighting cases like that,” he said.
The ordinance commission has referred the question to Mike Dillon, county attorney, to determine if a ban on sagging pants could be enforced.
(Source: The Shreveport Times online and The Telegraph online)
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