Think of it as a crackdown on cracks.
Augusta Commissioner Corey Johnson says the city needs a law against sagging pants, a fashion fad he says has young men dressed as though they're looking for prison sex.
Unlike ordinances passed in other communities that have raised the ire of civil rights advocates, his version would only cite those whose low belt lines cause "exposure of the buttocks."
"I'm not trying to infringe on anybody's rights," Mr. Johnson said. "I just want young people to think about what they're doing."
The trend, popularized by hip-hop artists, originated in penal institutions, where inmates are denied belts and strings to prevent strangulations.
In the free world, saggers usually wear baggy jeans around their thighs or just above the knees, exposing boxer shorts. The town of Delcambre, La., first outlawed the practice in June 2007, and other bans have been passed in Connecticut and the Georgia towns of Hahira, Hawkinsville and Warner Robins.
The American Civil Liberties Union has said that the laws are unconstitutional infringements on free expression that unfairly target young blacks.
Proposed bans are pending in Atlanta and Charleston, S.C. In October, the Waynesboro City Council approved a first reading of an ordinance imposing fines and community service for pants worn three inches below the pelvis, with a final reading expected early next month.
Mr. Johnson's proposed change to Augusta's public indecency ordinance will come up for a vote at the Dec. 2 commission meeting. Staff attorney Andrew MacKenzie said at the Public Service Committee meeting Monday that the rule wouldn't stir as much controversy because it prohibits exposure of body parts, not shorts.
According to a draft, violators doing nothing else wrong could not be arrested or searched. They would be summoned to court and subject to fines of $25 to $150 and eight hours of community service. Minors would be turned over to juvenile court.
"Mr. Johnson, are plumbers excluded from the ordinance?" Mayor Deke Copenhaver joked.
Some commissioners expressed concerns. Betty Beard said the ordinance isn't necessary, and Calvin Holland said he worried about it targeting only a certain group.
"A lot of folks don't wear baggy pants, but their behind's still out," J.R. Hatney said.
The Public Services Committee split 2-2 on the ordinance -- Mr. Johnson and Joe Jackson for it, Mr. Holland and Jerry Brigham against it -- so it goes to the commission next month without a recommendation.
Mr. Johnson conceded the rule might need more work. He suggested working with Richmond County schools to teach classes on dress etiquette.
"Kids need to understand that people do take notice of how they dress," he said.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
PROPOSED SAGGY PANTS ORDINANCE
Augusta Commissioner Corey Johnson's proposed saggy pants law would rewrite the existing public indecency ordinance, which covers lewd behavior, nudity and obscene language in public.
Under the proposal, a person "commits the offense of public indecency by exposure of the buttocks resulting from wearing saggy or baggy pants, shorts or other clothing."
Saggers who expose too much skin could not be arrested or searched over that infraction alone. Police would issue a citation and court summons.
Violators would be subject to $25 to $150 in fines and eight hours of community service, though first-time offenders could perform just two hours of community service without fines.
Third-time offenders would be fined $150 and given eight hours of community service.
Violators 16 and younger would be turned over to Richmond County Juvenile Court.
Source: Proposed amendment to Augusta-Richmond County code section 3-7-29
Comments
Well I like the ban. I don't want to see some young persons drawers. As far as it picking on a culture? I didn't know there was a race of butt showing people. What country are they from?
They're from Germany. You should see 'em at the spas! LOL
.....why worry about a bunch of kids desperatly trying to show a new fad...when women are on the beach with only a string ...STRING MIND YOU, covering their YA Ya..If a woman can walk down a public beach with that sort of "swim wear" she can also wear it on a Public Street! Don't push guys...things could be worse!
We already have laws covering the inappropriate showing of your buttocks. We do not need any new laws as we have more laws than police officers could ever learn as it is, many of which are stupid, a waste of time and redundant. Although I can understand where Mr. Johnson is coming from, we can not teach youth on the streets what parents should be teaching in the homes and schools need to be reinforcing which is self respect and personal responsibility and acountability. Our police, courts, law makers, etc. all have many more important matters to handle and frankly so does our commission. Until the commission can get major issues of government waste under control, learn how to work together, and vote based on issues vs. race especially issues such as "we will vote for what you want if you will vote for what we want" and then everyone ends up wasting tax payer money then they really have no business trying to dictate to our youth how they should wear their clothes. Again, if they show their butt, it is already covered under exsisting laws and therefore this new law does absolutely nothing positive but waste time and energy.
"young men dressed as if they are looking for prison sex".How do you know what they think Corey Johnson?Many of them have never heard of being dressed for "prison sex".....good grief!! I have a summer home in a Mountain area where the Black Population is less than 1%. There are white kids running around dressed{?} like that...Like all fads this one will come and go...ignore it! Are you old enough to remember trying to kick kids out of school because they had long hair? Didn't that one end up in the Supreme Court...or something like that. Leave well enough alone!
The proposal won't withstand any judicial scrutiny. Fashion often comes from the bottom of the economic latter. So what? The fad is for the freaky fringe. No one wishing to take part in society finds the fad attractive.
When I have to look at someone's underwear and butt crack it's not fashion or a fad. Write their parents a ticket for indecent exposure and I bet the "fashion fad" will go away quickly. It's gotten so bad now that even businesses are allowing their teenage employees to wear their pants low. I encourage everyone that sees this in a business to complain. If you get no satisfaction on the local level go higher. Everyone has a boss.
pt, that is what bothers me the most: the IRRELEVANCE of such an ordinance makes the gov't look ridiculous. anyone in civilized society who can't make the distinction between fashion (silly as it may be) and prison-related dress codes is a moron. please, folks, let the kids dress as they please and hope they grow out of it.
juantez; I agree with you wholeheartedly. I personally have more important concerns than to even READ about this proposed ban. It's stupid and sadly, not unexpected. It is just another example of the kind of thing that shows CSRA leadership brains are sagging. They better focus on real issues. If they don't know what's happening in the world I suggest they start reading here first ( http://www.journalismnet.com/papers/us.htm )
The police don't enforce most of the traffic laws what makes people think they will enforce a no crack law?
PRISON SEX!!!????? AHHHH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Now that was awesome. Corley deserves a medal for his frank description of this fashion scourge, and he is correct about where it came from. GAY PRISON SEX! Snoop Dogg indeed! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
It's beyond being a fad as it's been going on for years. I for one, think it's disgusting. If the parents don't have enough sense to make them dress decently, let it become illegal. I should be able to enjoy an outing with my grandaughter and not be forced to see this behavior. It really makes them look like idiots.
If you anyone thinks showing your underwear is OK & you have better things to worry about? Good because it's not your job, so don't worry about & let those do their work because it is their job. If they say your violating their rights? Well don't OUTLAW BAGGY PANTS..OUTLAW SHOWING YOUR UNDERWEAR IN PUBLIC..no one can argue with that. Don't use the word pants in the law. Use the UNDERWEAR!!! You people who stand up for baggy pants.? You are another thing wrong with America! Yes you!
I can help with this. If they cann't wear thier pants like a decent young man should, i can staple them to thie waist with my electric staple gun. that way the won't have to worry about them falling down.
Hey Gnip....thats a good one, It's going to be hard to find something funnier than that...lol..lol
of haggy pants. PROPOSED SAGGY PANTS ORDINANCE MAKE YOU LOOK A LIKE A INCOMPADENT FOOL
Posted by juantez on Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:33 AM
cute post which says more about the writer than her/his thoughts
The government can no more fix lack of self respect and being decent than it can fix poverty, drug problems or a failed economy. Take a look around, the people are the problem not the government, we need to fix ourselves and leave the government out of it.
Who cares how they wear them. Don't look. I do not personally like them but I do not thnk we need a law to do away with it. Or an article in the paper. How rediculous!!! There are more important things to worry about. Like putting child molesters away. Let the law spend their time and energy on such things as this... Just my opinion!!!!
Waq...who cares? I do. I tell you what, you don't worry about me caring & I will not worry about your(ridiculous) spelling..K. What I find ridiculous is there are ones saying...thats ok..I've got better things to worry about.I bet you do have more to worry about because it's probably your kids we are talking about & if you can not control your kids behavior & you decide to put up with such nonsense, that's fine. But don't expect everyone else to put up with your unruly children. Someone has to displine them & if you can't??? The Law will!
What some are failing to realize is the teenagers today are the most VIOLENT of any prior generations. Killing to a great number of them is as normal as men who cheat on their spouse. According to therapist the lack of 2 parents at home & daily displine contributes to the growing numbers of violent children. The 2 parents at home, well society can not control that. Displine, now that is something to a degree that can be controled. Every human being needs to learn & live with displine. You can not just choose what displine you prefer to use. To learn, you must be displined on the small ones to the large ones. If you let them off on the small stuff? Thats where the problem starts!
The pants thing did start in the prisons.... enough said, that's where most of these kids will end up anyway. Might as well dress the part!
Let'em wear their britches as they pleaze, it is much easier to spot the sleaze.
Fashions do come & go. Self respect & respect for others should be a constant. I find it equally offensive, although easier to look at, that young girls wear their pants with the waists so short the butt crack is exposed while standing up right. In many cases their pubic hair is even exposed. What are parents thinking???? Kid don't buy those clothes.
My word Corey there really is no need to bring race into this statement of the youth wearing their pants on their knees...This has nothing to do with race as there is no need...All their fears, supposed or real, are alleviated with this new President...Now to address the issue of the mentally retarded look I would like to say leave them alone...Maybe one day they will tire of looking like they need a diaper change and pull them up...At least they are wearing underwear...Helps from my point of view...:-)Also it gives the police a head start in foot pursuits to have the criminal running with the pants falling down...Kind of like having shackles already in place...
4putt, can you say that?? Ha. Anyway, much to do about nothing. This too shall pass.
For those of you that are saying: (Don't look, or we have more problems to solve) that's part of society's problem. Allowing Youth/Young Adults to be indecent in public (no matter what race) is telling them it's okay. They see this mess on TV and from others and it's like a virus. I can't stand going to the mall or anywhere and seeing that mess, much less my children seeing it. School's are supposed to teach subject matter, not how to dress and behave. That should be done in the home and if it's not being done there, write them or their parents a ticket for indecent exposure. WE DONT WANT TO SEE IT!
I would love to see them run across a busy street with saggy pants. Then maybe they'll think twice about sagging. Line 'em up and have 'em run!
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