Saggy Pants Ban in America, Now, Can They?

Wearing Saggy Pants as a fashion statement is believed to be originated from the prison system of United States where belts are prohibited. Prisoners are not allowed to wear belts to stop them using as weapons and prevent suicides. The saggy pants came into vogue in the 1990s when some American hip-hop stars started wearing them and it caught on fast among the youth. I have seen quite a few young people wearing these sagging pants in Singapore as well as in India. Although I do not really appreciate this fashion trend, I understand that it has become a symbol of their rejection of mainstream society values, and a symbol of freedom among many youths of today.

This fashion style has run into some rough weather in the US with the town of Albany in Georgia imposing a ban on saggy pants, as early as in November 2010. Young people in violation of the saggy pants ban will be fined $25 for the first time and repeated offenses will increase the fine to $200. It is reported that the town has netted around $4,000 so far from these fines. The Saggy Pants Law bans anyone from exposing the skin or undergarments by wearing skirts or pants more than 3 inches below the top of the hips. If they can not pay the fines, 40 hours of community service is in order.

A lot of people happened to think that wearing saggy pants is nothing short of 'indecent exposure'. Perhaps, they are only ok with their superheroes wearing underpants outside. :)

Earlier, many local governments, transport services, and even airlines showed their aversion towards saggy pants by implementing bans and prohibitions against wearing them. But no state or federal laws have been passed to that effect. Saggy pants are a violation of some school dress codes.

A Florida state law which went into effect for the 2011-2012 school year banned the practice of sagging while at school. It is also also reported that several US airlines have removed passengers from their flights for wearing pants too low.

Town Council of Delcambre, Louisiana, passed an indecent exposure law in June 2007, which prohibited wearing pants that exposes one's underwear. City Council of Hahira in Georgia, banned citizens from wearing pants below waist that bared skin or undergarments in March 2008.

Opa-Locka, Florida passed a $250 fine or 10 hours of community service for individuals who wears saggy cloths, in December 2010. Local transportation authority in Fort Worth in Texas prohibited passengers from boarding a bus wearing sagging pants that exposed their skin or underwear from June 2011 onwards.

Now with more and more people asking for bans on wearing sagging pants, what is the future of this fashion style? Will they be phased out from the showcases of clothing stores? Will the youth revolt against the bans? Or will these bans result in an increased sales of this clothing line?, I think only time can reveal the answers to these questions. It is not the first time a fashion clothing style or accessories came under prohibition. In our modern times, miniskirts, crocs (a type of footwear), antiwar T-shirts, Burqas (an Islamic wear), 'Obamao' T-shirts, neckties etc., were banned in various parts of the world citing different reasons. How successful were they? If you look back in history you can see many such bans forced upon the general public and the end results. So, lets wait and watch what will happen to the Saggy Pants Bans in America.