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Florida Judge Calls "Baggy Pants" Law Unconstitutional
A Florida judge has lifted “saggy pants” legislation today, one week after a teenager was forced to spend the night behind bars for exposing his underwear in public.
According to the AFP, Palm Beach Circuit Judge Paul Moyle was shocked to find out a 17 year-old boy was jailed because of his fashion sense.
“Somebody help me,” Moyle said prior to his decision. "We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No! We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest and the basis is he's then held overnight, no bond."
While some have argued the arrests have been justified by a showing of close to 5,000 signatures for the bill last March, the underlying issue of targeting urban communities has also risen prior to Moyle’s ruling of the law as “unconstitutional.”
Many US cities have begun placing fines and penalties on individuals caught in public wearing saggy pants.
According to Newsweek, a law sprouted in Flint, Michigan as new police chief David Dicks gave approval to begin arresting “saggers” in addition to threatening them with jail time and fines. He has been quoted calling the popular urban style “immoral self expression” although the look has been around for decades.
As of today, Dicks has only issued warnings, but has promised anyone wearing their pants below their underwear violates the city’s disorderly conduct code and will be punished by 93 days to a year in jail or a fine up to $500.
Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia are reportedly also considering making saggy pants illegal.
Source: sohh.com
According to the AFP, Palm Beach Circuit Judge Paul Moyle was shocked to find out a 17 year-old boy was jailed because of his fashion sense.
“Somebody help me,” Moyle said prior to his decision. "We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No! We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest and the basis is he's then held overnight, no bond."
While some have argued the arrests have been justified by a showing of close to 5,000 signatures for the bill last March, the underlying issue of targeting urban communities has also risen prior to Moyle’s ruling of the law as “unconstitutional.”
Many US cities have begun placing fines and penalties on individuals caught in public wearing saggy pants.
According to Newsweek, a law sprouted in Flint, Michigan as new police chief David Dicks gave approval to begin arresting “saggers” in addition to threatening them with jail time and fines. He has been quoted calling the popular urban style “immoral self expression” although the look has been around for decades.
As of today, Dicks has only issued warnings, but has promised anyone wearing their pants below their underwear violates the city’s disorderly conduct code and will be punished by 93 days to a year in jail or a fine up to $500.
Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia are reportedly also considering making saggy pants illegal.
Source: sohh.com