Baltimore Considers Sagging-Pants Ban|ABC 7 News

text size: A | A | A

Baltimore Considers Sagging-Pants Ban

posted 5:59 pm Tue September 18, 2007 - Baltimore

tags: pants • sagging • ban • baltimore

Please Upgrade To Flash!

ABC 7 News - Baltimore Considers Sagging-Pants Ban

related stories:

A proposal by a Baltimore City Council member to ban sagging pants is not attracting a lot of sympathy in the Washington Region.

Councilwoman Helen Holton introduced a nonbinding resolution Monday that she hopes will start a dialogue in the community about sagging pants that expose men's and women's underwear. Holton says she's disgusted by the style and says some offenders use the baggy styles to stash drugs and weapons. She notes some other communities around the country have already enacted bans.

Holton says there isn't enough time left in the council's current term for consideration of a formal bill banning the style and listing penalties. However, she says she could introduce a bill after the new term starts in December.

Few people ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 asked, thought it was a matter for lawmakers, however.

"I think it's the responsibility of the parents to say pull your pants up," said Marjorie DuVall, a mother. "I don't want to see your underwear."

Daniel Bradley of Peaceaholics agreed:

"I definitely disagree with pants sagging, but this is a social problem more than a legal problem."

The American Civil Liberties Union says a possible ban amounts to racial profiling. The idea of a ban is not unique to Baltimore. In Delcambre, Louisiana, showing your boxers or bare buttocks can already get you a 500 dollar fine or six months in jail.

Trenton, New Jersey, and Atlanta are considering bans. Virginia lawmakers rejected a similar ban two years ago.

The baggy pant trend first took hold in American prisons where inmates aren't given belts to prevent hangings and beatings.

Latest Comment on Baltimore Considers Sagging-Pants Ban

HarleyFanNow

10:52 am on 09/19/07

This is clearly a case of gender discrimination that is hostile to young men.

Why have they not included the plague of exposed bra straps, excess cleavage and blatantly tattooed breasts?

They can raise a lot of revenue by collecting fines from excess cleavage and all those ugly tattoos.

» report abuse

read all comments

You need to be a registered member of
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.

Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.

Please leave your comments below:

Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.

The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.