Another Law Targets Saggy Pants
July 22nd, 2008The latest penalties include a $25 fine and even jail time

The crusade against sagging continues as the Chicago suburb of Lynwood has become the latest community to slap a fine on young folks who think it’s hip to show their underwear in public. Eugene Williams, mayor of Lynwood, led the campaign to impose $25 fines against anyone who reveals three inches or more of their drawers. But Lynwood’s new law isn’t the first of its kind. Just a week or so ago, Flint, Mich., showing its utter disdain for the fashion trend, says it will throw offenders in jail. Leading that city’s crusade is the new chief of police, David Dicks, who calls sagging “immoral self-expression,” reports Mary Chapman and Jessica Bennett of Newsweek magazine Their article suggests that Dicks, like officials in other cities with anti-sagging laws, are at least partially angered over the roots of the hip-hop clothing trend – prison, where inmates’ pants often hang off their butts because they don’t get belts. To find out other reasons mentioned and what the NAAPC had to say, go to BETlcom/News. What do you think about laws targeting saggy pants?
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I really don’t understand how an individual can get fined or how the government can just band someone from wearing the clothes they’ve purchased. I come from up north milwaukee, wisconsin and guys out there been wearing their pants down since, who knows when. That’s a personal decision that can only be made by the individual wearing the pants. To me personally that’s not indecent exposure at all, because it’s not like the individual is showing his bare “a**,” he’s just wearing his clothes the way he wishes to wear them. But either way it goes these people are not going to stop wearing clothes they’ve bought, just because the law has come up with a band for “Baggy Pants.”
I really don’t understand how an individual can get fined or how the government can just band someone from wearing the clothes they’ve purchased. I come from up north milwaukee, wisconsin and guys out there been wearing their pants down since, who knows when. That’s a personal decision that can only be made by the individual wearing the pants. To me personally that’s not indecent exposure at all, because it’s not like the individual is showing his bare “a**,” he’s just wearing his clothes the way he wishes to wear them. But either way it goes these people are not going to stop wearing clothes they’ve bought, just because the law has come up with a band for “Baggy Pants.”
You know, I am white & not into hip-hop. However, it is so clear that this is racially motivated. It is also just another example of how the “system” attempts to control the African-American community by inflicting fear. Back in 1992 when I was “younger”, this same story made the rounds with people who just wore boxer shorts (thanks to TLC) & the “system” tried this then. When it comes down to it, at the end of the day, I am a 33 year man…if I choose to wear boxers, or saggy jeans, or even go naked, the whole goverment can suck everything that hangs out the front & the back of my baggy clothes!!! CHALLANGE THE SYSTEM!!! DON’T LET ANYONE REPRESS YOU!!!
i agree thats just a mess. what is the point of saggin most of them have belts on and still sag!! thats y god made belts to wear and keep ur pants on ur waist. saggin aint cute. its rude and disrespectful. i dont think it has anything to do wit racism because black, white, hispanic and so on all of them sag
Frankly, I think this new law is bulls*** because America is a FREE COUNTRY and no one should tell you how to dress or how to wear you pants, or any clothing item for that matter!
whats really the difference between a very revieling bathing suit and a pair of boxers.Funny but a two piece should be controversal before saggy jeans
HI I AM A 17 YEAR OLD FROM HARTFORD CT.I DONT AGREE WITH THE FACT OF MAKING THIS SAGGIN OF THE PANTS A BIG DEAL I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE IS TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS WORLD TO WORRY ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE ARE WEARING THEIR CLOTHING.PEOLE ARE DYING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THIER TALKING ABOUT THROWING SOMEONE IN JAIL FOR SAGGIN THEIR JEANS BUT WHAT HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ATCUALLY COMMITING A CRIME AND BREAKING A LAW ???I JUS FEEL THAT PEOPLE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY BRINGING US DOWN AS A COUNTRY THAN TRYING TO STOP THE WAY PEOPLE DRESS.WHAT DOES THE WAY WE DRESS HAVE TO DO WITH LEARNIG IN SCHOOL ETC. IM SURE WE ALL KNOW HAVE CERTIAN DRESS CODES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AT WORK BUT AS CITIZENS WE PAY TAXES AND ALL WHY CANT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DRESS HOW EVER WE FEEL WHEN WE ARE NOT ON DUTY??
I think it would be a good law, but in a way its kind of stupid. The reason y i say that is because, its not like a cop or sheriff is gonna catch every person who is sagging. Its like impossible to catch everybody who saggs. But i think boys and also girls should not sagg, and should pull up their pants/shorts. People do not want to see peoples bottums.
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i think the law is stupid, sagging your jeans is a way of expression. It is a trend just like any other trend
THiS iS RiDiCUlOUS!
SAGGiNG JEANS iS JUST A TREND LiKE EVERY OTHER FASHiON.
iF THEY PREFER TO SHOW UNDERWEAR SO BE iT!
AT LEAST THEY AREN’T SHOWING THEiR BUTT!
iTS JUST STUPiD.
IM A UP AND COMIN ARTIST FROM FLINT, MICHIGAN… I THINK SAGGING IS OK TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. I FEEL LIKE WHEN U SAG AND LET THE WORLD SEE YO SKIN THATS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UP, THATS WHEN IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. IF YOU GONE DO IT KEEP IT AT A RESPECTFUL LEVEL.
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I am 55 yrs old and know where and what this type of show really means. The younger generation pic up trends and dont know the real meaning of where it exactly started or what it really means! The sagging pants part in the prison system is not just about no belt. I was in for over 20 yrs and I know no belt stuff dont fly . The real reason a guy wore his pants and was showing his underware was because he was offering his booty to others. Mabe if more peeps knew this they would tend to pick up their pants and hide there underware. I know i had plenty of time to see what happened to those with their buts showing. I tend to keep mine in my pants and up on the belt line.
as messed up as this trend is, the people following it shouldn’t be fined or put in jail. If the person following this trend chooses to wear his/her pants like this knowing full and well how its hindering them thats on them. Soon enough a new trend will come along and saggin pants will go out of style like mesh t-shirts. If anything the police should be happy that men/women wear their jeans this way because if they are commiting a criminal act it makes it harder for them to run and easier to catch. I would not be happy if a law like this passed in my state because what would keep them from passing a law that would fine me for wearing tight jeans or short skirts. Laws affecting what u wear are ridiculous.
check out the 2007 may 8 issues of Jet Magazine, a story on sagging pants with comments by judge Joe Mathis and Pastor Dianne Robinson who is from Jacksonville,FL Pastor Robinson is known as the pullem up preacher, and has written a hand book titled Pull Up Your Pants,Dress For Success. Currently she will be in 6 school in Jacksonville encourageing our young people thath pulling up your pants is a matter of respect, respect of them self and others check out the hand book and check out Pastor Dianne Robinson, and You can also check her out or even e-mail her at
secondchancefamilysoultions07@yahoo.com or yevette@workfromhomecouch.net for contcact info.
I do not care what the NAACP or any other group feels about Saggy Pants. I do not appreciate seeing a slimy ass in front of me in public places if you want to show your ass do it all you desire in private. It is a moral issure so if the NAACP is against it. Then that proves to me that It and its member must be Imoral, I have always wondered about them now we have proof.
Don’t we have more important things to worry about? I don’t care if a guy wears only his underwear. If you don’t know the difference betwen male and female GO BACK TO SCHOOL and get it right. This is NOT offensive. If you don’t like it don’t look. Stop complaining about stupid stuff. Worry about gas prices, poor people, jobs. Things that matter. Find something to do. Get a life.
come on man people should sag their jeans its good fashion
come on man people should sag their jeans its good fashion
You all are over reacting !!!!!!!!!!!