Now they want to make it illegal to wear Saggy Pants in the United States
Saggy pants have become a fashion item among the younger generation, but some cities and states have been criminalizing them silently. In South Carolina in the USA, it might soon become illegal to wear them, and people might be given fines if they are found in the street wearing pants that are hanging three inches or more below the hip bone. This applies even if there is no skin exposed.
It Could Be Illegal For Men and Boys to Wear Saggy Pants in South Carolina
The lawmakers in South Carolina have introduced House Bill 4957 on 15 February. This bill states that it is illegal for boys or men to be seen out in public wearing pants that are three inches below the crest of ilium that exposes either undergarments or skin. However, it does not ban women or girls from wearing the same saggy pants.
In case you do not know, the ilium is the hip bone, so it is illegal for boys and men to go out in the street wearing pants that fall below this, or as it states on the bill, the “ileum” which is the wrong spelling. This word means the small intestine if you are interested.
Police Could Hand Out Increasing Fines
If the bill does get passed, it means that police in South Carolina will be able to hand out fines that increase with each of the tickets they hand out. The first time a ticket is given for wearing baggy pants, it will be $25. If another ticket is given for the same offense to the same person, it will be $50 and as much as 3 hours of community service. If another ticket is given, it would be $75 in fines and 6 hours community service.
One of the main sponsors behind the bill is Wendell Gilliard and Gilliard said that it is time to lead by example before pants are worn below the knee.
It was said that while seeing underwear at the top of the pants is strange to some people, the underwear is just another piece of clothing, and the person is not showing skin and is still covered up. It is an outrage that clothing should be something that can be outlawed or legislated just because someone does not like it. It proves that at the moment we are living in a culture of control freaks, force and threats are being used to try to mold society to the wishes of politicians.
Two High School Boys Were Arrested For Wearing Saggy Pants
Lawmakers have said that people will not be jailed for wearing saggy pants but in the past people have been arrested for just that. Two high school boys from Tennessee were arrested for what was said to be indecent exposure as they were wearing saggy pants that came below the waistline.
So should people be given fines for expressing their fashion look if they choose to wear pants that sag below the waistline? If fines are given for that look, where is it going to end? Perhaps some people will not like peaked caps or tight jeans, and these too will end up being made illegal to wear in public. Where will it stop? Surely all that people who wear saggy pants can be accused of is having a poor fashion sense, not of being illegal.
