Submitted by Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
After a backlash from the general public and lack of support, the Florida city of Ocala repealed its ban against wearing saggy pants on public property.
During a city council meeting members voted 4-1 to repeal ordinance 2014-44 “Clothing requirements on public property” that called for a punishment of up to 60 days in jail and a $500.00 fine.
Among the public were representatives of the NAACP who voiced concern the law would target African-American youth.
The lone dissenter to the repeal, Councilwoman Mary Rich who authored the original ordinance, argued that she believes the types of people who wear saggy pants also don’t have jobs.
“And when you don’t have money to feed your family, what do you do? Steal,” Rich said. “I don’t think we’re violating their First Amendment rights.” Her words caused a stir in the audience.
In brief, the ordinance prohibited the wearing of pants that exposes underwear or the buttocks. The text of the former ordinance read:
ARTICLE IV. – PUBLIC PROPERTY CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 15-91. – Purpose.
It is the purpose of this article to promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city by prohibiting insufficient clothing and manner of dress on all city owned property, especially city parks or recreation facilities frequented by children and families. In particular, it is the purpose of this article is to promote good morals, public health and hygiene by providing clothing standards which ensure that the buttocks of any person on city owned property (e.g., parks and recreational facilities) is sufficiently covered.
(Ord. No. 2014-44, § 1, 7-15-14)
Sec. 15-92. – Intent.The intent of this article is to provide specific minimal clothing standards which can be consistently applied to all persons that use or come on to city owned property.
(Ord. No. 2014-44, § 1, 7-15-14)
Sec. 15-93. – Definitions.City owned property means any park, recreation facility, sports field, swimming pool, parking lot, municipal building, public square or gathering area, roadway, sidewalk, bike path or like transportation facility, terminal, airport, water or sewer facility owned or leased by the City of Ocala.
Natural waistline means that area immediately above a person’s hips.
Underwear means an article of personal wear that is worn between the skin and an outer layer of clothing. “Underwear” includes, but is not limited to, boxer shorts, jockey shorts and thongs.
(Ord. No. 2014-44, § 1, 7-15-14)
Sec. 15-94. – Public decency.(a)
It is unlawful for any person, while on city owned property, to knowingly or intentionally wear pants below the person’s natural waistline in a manner that leaves the person’s underwear or bare buttocks exposed. A person’s underwear is “exposed” if, when measured vertically, more than two inches of it is visible. A person’s bare buttock[s] are “exposed” if any portion of the person’s intergluteal cleft is visible.
(b)
It shall be presumed that a person knowingly or intentionally violated the requirements of this article when that person has been notified by a police officer of the violation and requested to conform to the ordinance’s requirement and subsequently while still on city owned property fails to comply with the requirements of this article despite the warning.
(c)
Any person violating any of the prohibitions of this section shall, may be punished as provided in City Code section 1-9 ons [sic] of this section shall, may be punished as provided in City Code section 1-9.
In 2008, a Florida judge decided a similar ruling that landed a teenager in jail was “unconstitutional”.
The 17-year-old spent a night in jail after police arrested him for exposing 4 inches of boxer shorts in Riviera Beach in Southeast Florida.
A circuit judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional based on “the limited facts” of the case.
The city is getting out of the fashion police business, at least for now. In their misplaced quest to dress up the city’s image, the fact that the British press picked up the story certainly exposed themselves to some unwanted publicity.
By Darren Smith
Sources:
Ocala Star Banner
Ocala, Florida City Code
WUFT
BBC News
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Most certainly every law is not necessarily a good one! Some are just plain silly. That is why our form of government has mechanisms for people to repeal them.
DBQ – just saw your post. So true – they can’t run with pants 4 sizes too big and just fall down. I also find the penguin walk very entertaining.
Isaac – I loved your post. 🙂
This is an example of over-regulation – the government acting like the fashion police. Not every law or regulation is a good thing.
I hate the baggy pants with underwear showing fashion. It looks very unathletic for these guys to waddle like penguins to keep their pants up. They can’t really run. And I’ve seen guys with their pants belted completely below their butts. They just look stupid, or unable to dress themselves. I’ve known cops who get a laugh out of taking their belts in jail. The pants are so baggy they fall completely off unless they hold them up with their hands, like petticoats.
But the government has no business telling us what to wear, beyond laws against public nudity. Beyond that, youth are welcome to wear whatever will embarrass them most in pictures they’ll look at later in life. Heck, the mullet was in style when I was a teenager, so who am I to judge?
Sometimes youth don’t think beyond simple rebellion or looking cool. Their clothing, demeanor, speech, and manners are the flag they wave. That’s something they learn later, when they start preparing for the job market. Dress like a slob, and good luck finding a job. This fashion trend is something for them to enjoy as teenagers, and hopefully outgrow when it’s time to grow up and become self supporting.
Good, now dem boys can wear da clothes.
People are wired weird.
The only race I like is the one I ain’t runnin’
Ya’ know. I knew Ernest T. Bass’ ex-wife, daughter and grand-daughter. Never got the chance to meet him though.
If pants are so low you can see a “butt crack” I call that indecent exposure. Which the US used to care about. Watching the chaos in Ferguson gave us an opportunity to view all kinds of underwear. Unfortunately, it plays into exactly what Black people complain about. The assumptions your subconscious bring are negative. You can keep your mouth shut,but not your mind. That said, the dragging on the ground of excess pant leg could be dangerous. You could trip, fall on somebody, and break something. If you don’t want assumptions made, quit wearing the “uniform of young Black troublemakers! ” you are “typed” period! If you want to be respected, clean up your act. Do that and you might be surprised at getting no reaction because you are Black.
Sandi – sagging is used by whites and Hispanics as well as blacks. It seems to be more of a style thing (idiotic as it is, but then I wore suede shoes)
as much as i hate the saggy pants look it works better then watching boys walking around in skinny tight jeans and yet there was no uproar about that piece of fashion Nick you are absolutely right it began in prison from them taking the belts and laces supposedly to keep the inmates from committing suicide. not sure where the gay part came in at as ive not seen one gay man walking around sagging since they wear their jeans and pants tighter then women fyi most of the time its not their underwear you’re seeing but a pair of shorts over the underwear ex basketball shorts its still disgusting regardless
shakingmyhead – it does slow down those Circle K runs. 🙂
QUOTE “And when you don’t have money to feed your family, what do you do? Steal,” Rich said.”
Is there ANYONE who wouldn’t do whatever it takes to feed their family!?!?
Stealing is probably last on the list of solutions, but it’s there….
DBQ, Great comment. I’m sure the show, Cops, has some “saggers” getting nabbed. “Bad boy, bad boys, what you gonna do when they come for you?” Run and fall flat on my face!
Whatever happened to going commando. I do.
ON the other hand there is an upside (if you will) to the saggy pants fad.
http://www.realpolice.net/forums/crazy-dumb-criminal-stories-103/57639-cops-catch-crook-after-his-baggy-assed-pants-fall-ground-trip-him.html
“The C-H-P says an increasing number of foot pursuits are ending quickly because suspects can’t run and hold their pants up at the same time. ” 🙂
The fad reminds me of the hobble skirts that women wore that made it nearly impossible to walk and made them vulnerable.
http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/.a/6a00e553a80e108834017d41bcf097970c-800wi
RAAAACIST!!!
It indicates that your ass is available to those who would like to have it. Why this became a fad is beyond me, but as a teacher, I can tell you that these kids are actually wearing two pair of underwear to protect their privacy. I always found it annoying to look at the asses of my students and was continually yelling at them to pull their pants up.
It used to be that wearing a three piece suit gavea man an aura of dignity. Today it means that the person is likely to be scamming others, inherited money and has no valuable skills, is running for or planning to run for political office, prefers to be uncomfortable than honest about his station in life.
Perhaps they feel it’s their natural right to wear their clothing as they see fit.
Throughout modern history and probably throughout all history, youth have rebelled in one way or another. The ‘gansta’ routine is today’s routine. In the sixties and seventies it was long hair and beards. When long hair and beards no longer bugged conservatives new ways were developed. Youth will always want to make their presence known. And, as not everyone can astound their elders with musical, academic, artistic, or other traditional achievements of the sort, most turn to simple and blatant rebellious acts of short shorts, tight pants, hair colors, etc. No matter how ridiculous, and perhaps ridiculous is the aim, the more they are noticed the more they will persist.
Laugh with them, for they are laughing at us and we were all there.
what an ignorant woman…a complete waste of time
They maybe on to something, saggy pants equals, hoodies, plus skittles and tea.
How stupid do you really have to be to get elected here?
Sagging pants comes from jail. They take your belt when you’re in lockup. You’re pants then sag. So, while this ordinance was stupid, the jail/prison culture glorified by this idiotic trend is even more stupid and self destructive.