The Low-Down on Saggy Pants Laws
Cities and states crack down on the controversial style.
1 / 11
The Issue "Sags" On - A fashion statement or faux pas? A number of cities and states around the nation have sought laws banning saggy pants from their streets. Keep reading for a look at how the issue has continued to evolve in recent years. — Britt Middleton (Phot: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
2 / 11
Cause for Controversy - Sagging pants, a style popularized in the 1990s linked to urban culture and popularized by hip-hop artists, has long been the subject of scrutiny by lawmakers and community leaders. The common criticism is that the look, where an individual's underwear or buttocks are visible, amounts to an incident display of skin. Critics argue that laws banning saggy pants encroach upon freedom of expression and unfairly target racial minorities. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
3 / 11
Wildwood, New Jersey - In a unanimous decision June 12, the city of Wildwood, New Jersey, approved a law banning saggy pants from its boardwalk. First-time violators could face community service and a $25-$100 fine, which may increase to $200 for repeat offenders. Rapper Game is among the law's most vocal opponents, having characterized it as racist. (Photo: Yoon S. Byun/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
4 / 11
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana - Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish passed an ordinance in April banning saggy pants in public places, with violators facing a $50-$100 fine and community service. Back in 2004, Louisiana state legislatures failed to get support for a statewide ban. (Photo: Commercial Appeal /Landov)
5 / 11
Florida Schools - In 2011, Florida Gov. Rick Scott approved SB 228, affectionately nicknamed the “droopy drawers bill,” which prohibited all public school students from wearing clothing that "is indecent, vulgar, or otherwise disruptive," including exposing one's underwear with overly saggy pants. Punishments included a verbal warning and extended to a three-day suspension upon subsequent violations. (Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/ MCT /LANDOV)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 11
Cocoa, Florida - The city of Cocoa, Florida, put a stop to saggy pants in their town last October. City leaders said the effort was a means to “protect and preserve the unique character” of Cocoa, a “small family oriented, suburban community.” Fines ranged from $25-$100. (Photo: Contra Costa Times/MCT /Landov)
7 / 11
Hampton, Georgia - The city of Hampton, Georgia, approved an ordinance in 2011 that punished violators with a $50-$200 fine. (Photo: Michael Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
8 / 11
Fort Worth, Texas - In 2011, the Fort Worth Texas Public Bus Line introduced a policy where bus riders would be kicked off for showing their undergarments or excessive skin. (Photo: Paul Harris, Pacificcoastnews.com)
9 / 11
Dallas, Texas - In 2006, Dallas officials rallied for police-enforced laws banning saggy pants. While the measure eventually stalled, the city did launch a billboard campaign in 2007 aimed at deterring people from wearing the look. The "Pull 'em Up” billboards featured slogans such as “Don’t Be Lame, Elevate Your Game" and "Represent Yourself Like You Present Yourself." (Photo: Courtesy of HipHopGovernment.org)
10 / 11
Delcambre, Louisiana - One of the most stringent saggy pants laws came by way of Delcambre, Louisiana. In 2007, the city began enforcing a saggy pants law carrying a maximum $500 fine or up to a six-month prison sentence. (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)