It is the bane of parents everywhere – teenage boys wearing their trousers at half-mast.
But one small US town is fighting back by banning them.
Despite protests that the ban is unconstitutional, members of the Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana voted overwhelmingly to introduce the laws.
Violators will be fined £30 for a
first offence, £70 for a second offence and face a further fine and 16
hours’ community service if they are caught a third time.
Officials said they imposed the ban for the ‘general welfare’ of residents.
And youth leader Diana Collins backed the move, saying it would allow young men to ‘look decent’.
Singer Justin Bieber is among those who favour the ‘saggy pants’ look – trousers halfway down the hips with the underwear exposed to the world.
The trend originated in US prisons,
where inmates were not allowed to have belts, and hip hop artists began
copying the look in the 1990s.
Barack Obama spoke out against the look in 2008, saying: ‘Brothers should pull up their pants.
‘You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on. Some people might not want to see your underwear. I’m one of them.’
Even black leaders, whose community the ban will affect the most, were in favour of the new laws.
‘There is nothing positive about people wearing saggy pants,’ said Jerome Boykin, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
However, there is some opposition – the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana says the ban is ‘unconstitutional’.
‘To ban a particular clothing style would violate a liberty interest guaranteed under the 14th Amendment,’ they said.
The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution says no citizen should be deprived of ‘life, liberty or property’ and no person should be denied equal protection of the law.
But one small US town is fighting back by banning them.
Despite protests that the ban is unconstitutional, members of the Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana voted overwhelmingly to introduce the laws.
Banned: The 'saggy pant' look has been popular since the 90s
Officials said they imposed the ban for the ‘general welfare’ of residents.
And youth leader Diana Collins backed the move, saying it would allow young men to ‘look decent’.
Singer Justin Bieber is among those who favour the ‘saggy pants’ look – trousers halfway down the hips with the underwear exposed to the world.
Fans: Justin Bieber enjoys the style, as seen here at an NBA basketball game
Barack Obama spoke out against the look in 2008, saying: ‘Brothers should pull up their pants.
‘You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on. Some people might not want to see your underwear. I’m one of them.’
Even black leaders, whose community the ban will affect the most, were in favour of the new laws.
‘There is nothing positive about people wearing saggy pants,’ said Jerome Boykin, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
However, there is some opposition – the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana says the ban is ‘unconstitutional’.
‘To ban a particular clothing style would violate a liberty interest guaranteed under the 14th Amendment,’ they said.
The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution says no citizen should be deprived of ‘life, liberty or property’ and no person should be denied equal protection of the law.