I guess I can just post this BBC article I found today right here:

US Town Set to Ban Saggy Trousers

A mayor in the US state of Louisiana says he will sign into law a proposal to make wearing saggy trousers an act of indecent exposure.

Delcambre town council unanimously passed the ordinance earlier this week making it a crime to wear trousers that show underwear.

"If you expose your private parts, you'll get a fine" of US$500 (£254) Mayor Carol Broussard said.

Offenders will also risk up to six months in jail.

Fashionable

Speaking of people who wear saggy trousers, Mr Broussard told the Associated Press news agency: "They're better off taking the pants off and just wearing a dress."

Town attorney Ted Ayo said the ordinance expands on the existing state indecent exposure law by adding underwear to the list of forbidden exposures.

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

Some residents say the ordinance targets blacks, as low-slung trousers are fashionable among hip hop fans.

Mr Broussard denied it was racially motivated.

"White people wear sagging pants, too," he said.


I feel like I don't even know what to say about this! It makes a little sense to me because I don't see the sense in belting your pants around your thighs and having your pockets hit the backs of your knees, but seriously... people should still be able to wear what they want. It's not like backsides are hanging out, just boxers. Thoughts?

It's quite obviously targeted towards blacks. Come on, it's Louisiana. They tried to pass this in my state a while ago, it was laughed at and never passed. I really find it hard to imagine boxers as indecent exposure. Most of the people who wear baggy pants usually wear boxers, and athletic shorts, then the jeans over that, showing off the athletic shorts, which is in absolutely no way indecent exposure. All I know is that if a black person ends up in jail for six months over this, there will be such a huge rebellion in the black community around the country that the law won't stay in effect for long.

Actually, the law was passed in parts of VA for a while before it was overturned, from what I understand. This was back in '04-'05.

:o I never heard of that. Luckally I don't normally wear my pants like that, unless I forget to put on a belt. :P

Isn't expression through clothing a form of freedom of speech, making this ban a violation of the Bill of Rights?

Well i wouldn't go that far. Wearing something isn't speaking. As far as i'm concerned Freedom of Speech applies to writing and speaking (have i missed any?)

But your right, Banning a form of clothing/ way of wearing clothes is ludicrous.

Although i suppose it does raise the point of 'where do you draw the line?' I know some on here will say that any form of clothing should be allowed. I think i'd probably agree. But should there be a limit on how little clothing is acceptable? Should certain images or words on clothing be tolerated?

Aren't hip hop fans predominately white?

No. This isn't an issue of expression through clothing, which is a load of shit in my opinion, it's an issue of taste.



However this is still protected by the ninth amendment.

I don't wear my pants saggy either so passing this law wouldn't bother me and I for one am not a big fan of saggy pants either it looks classless, there's a little thing called a belt which everyone should use if their pants sag so this shouldn't be that big of an issue. Wearing your pants saggy isn't expressing anything except that you follow the fad.

There is nothing appealing about low-riding pants on either males or females. If a person is looking for comfort, they could go with looser clothing than tight fitting. The slouchy look is a rebellious statement by the current generation of youth. If that person really wanted to show of their underwear, they shouldn't be wearing pants anyway. Knowing that a girl is wearing a T-back or G-string doesn't overly excite me any more than say... panty lines. It confirms they are wearing some, that is about it.

I do know that those with tattoos on their lower back will often want to show them off by wearing low-riding pants. If they are out clubbing or cruising the town, that's kewl. Having someone grocery shopping looking that way only confirms they've got to show off something for which they are proud. Many instances, people that I've known that have tattoos will often be ashamed of them in their elderly years. Except the ol' Navy guys that still wear them on their arms.