US Town Bans Low-Slung Trousers, 6 months in jail or a fine of $500

[ariesgem]

A town council in Louisiana has made it a crime to wear baggy trousers that expose the underwear.
Residents of Delcambre in the southern US state face six months in jail or a fine of $500 if they are caught wearing trousers which show their undergarments. Low-slung trousers worn below the waistband of the underpants became a fashion trend in the 1990s, associated with the culture of hip hop and gangsta rap. Popularised by musicians such as Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, the style is said to be inspired by the uniforms of prisoners, who are not permitted to wear belts.

The legislation was introduced by Delcambre councillor Albert Roy, and has been backed up by the Mayor Carol Broussard.Several residents have complained that the law targets black people, but Mr Broussard denied it is racially motivated.“White people wear sagging pants, too,” he said.

Town attorney Ted Ayo said the legislation expands on the existing state indecent exposure laws 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.”

But even Mr Roy, who introduced the ban, said the $500 fine was excessive.“I think it should be something like $25,” he said. Delcambre resident Adam George, wearing low-slung trousers covered by a long T-shirt, said: “It’s not like I’m showing my privates or anything like that. It’s my boxers.”


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/14/wpants114.xml

[BlooInBloo]

1. Easily solved: Don't wear underwear (grin).

[Tom Joad]

2. Thank God. Humanity is saved!

[bryant69]

4. That's all it takes? Damn Bush for not working on this sooner. n/t

[Javaman]

3. In other news...

The sale of rainbow suspenders has skyrocketed.

[northzax]

5. simple answer:

wear two pairs of underwear. if they cite you for showing off your undies, call them a pair of shorts, and demonstrate that you are wearing actual underwear.

no rule against wearing shorts, right?

or simply call them 'shorts' and tell the judge you always go commando, then drop your pants in court to show them. (full disclosure, this will work much better if you are a hot young woman)

[LiberalArkie]

6. I personally think it is great. I am so tired of that look. Of course my shirt is always tucked in.

My jeans fit. My clothes are not 4 sizes to large. My sneakers are laced and I have to loosen the laces to remove them. I guess I have become like my dad. He always was neatly dressed.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. Would you still support

a law that stated that "laced" shoes are against the law because if they become untied you could trip over them and fall down, hit your head and die? Its no more rediculuous than this law.

[Posteritatis]

12. So what other looks should we legislate? (nt)

[CoffeeCat]

7. The same people who bring us these laws...

...are the same people who advocate the continuation of an illegal, lie-based war that
has killed 100,000+ innocent Iraqi civilians and thousands of our own soldiers.

Go figure.

They'll lazily accept and tolerate torture, murder and the suffering of innocent children done in their
own name, with their tax dollars. However, stand back and watch the fury fly--from these same people--if
a young person dares to sport a smidgen of their "Hanes" tag.

Up is down. Black is white. Wake me when the nightmare is over.

[OwnedByFerrets]

9. Ditto on your post......

thats all we need, more insane fucking laws:eyes:

[bananas]

8. Plumbers go on strike in protest. nt

[peace13]

11. Next choice....go to jail for baggy pants

or enlist in the military. That is how they meet their quotas! Young people be very careful not to cross the sheriff! Peace, Kim

[ncrainbowgrrl]

13. Ok, there's one place I can't go.

I have no clothing that fits right now. Everything's either too large or too small- packed on a LOT of weight from meds this year- and the jeans that I DO wear are baggy, and below the hips- with a belt- to keep 'em on... I still have a way to go before I get back to my old size, and I'm not buying any clothing that will encourage me to not work hard to take the weight off... My knee can't take the extra weight, and should I stay like this for a while, I'll finally need that ACL surgery that I've been told to wait on until my insurance declares it "medically necessary" although it's partially torn and hurts... :eyes:

Wow. I went off topic. But that's okay.

[ToeBot]

14. I'm less incensed by this than I should be

This is one fad whose passing is long overdue, send it to the scrap heap of human idiocy. I mean for fuck's sake, pull up your goddamn pants!

[Javaman]

15. I knew that craze was so over when I saw this...

http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Sewn-In_20Layered_20_27Yoof_27_20Pants

[peace13]

16. Too funny!

Fucntion over form it is! Peace, kim

[neweurope]

17. Oh, the clothes police - in The Land Of The Free!

Somehow you don't seem to even notice it anymore.

I don't like that look. But I - overweight, 53 years old - would start to wear it exclusively if anybody passed a law like that here.

Really, now. Clothes police????!!! My, are you free.

:rofl:


--------------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Gabi Hayes]

18. Daily Show did a similar story to this in Lousiana awhile back. It was one of the funniest things

I've ever seen

I don't know if it's the same place, but they interviewed the guy behind it, who was both a preacher AND a lawmaker, IIRC

it's well worth watching, if possible to find.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do a rerun of the story.

will be watching/taping tonight

please......

[Coventina]

19. I'm trying to feel outraged.

But, geez, I'm tired of seeing wannabe gangbangers' undies.