Style

Chicago Suburb Bans Saggy Trousers

by Jordan Yerman | July 20, 2008 at 06:43 am

396 views | 4 Recommendations | 6 comments

Another community says No to crack... Lynwood, a suburb of Chicago, has banned the wearing of saggy trousers. No more than three inches of exposed underwear. This ban, seen as targeting black teens, is just the latest in a string of trouser-based legislation. For example, in Flint, Michigan, the fine for droopy drawers is five hundred bucks; master_jim2008 has more detail.

The leaders of the small south suburb, with their eyes on attracting development to Lynwood, last week passed an ordinance stating that people caught exposing 3 inches or more of their underwear will be fined $25—the first Chicago-area town to crack down on low-slung pants.

Since the first sullen cave-teen glared at his father over not being able to use the wheel, young people have been finding new ways to irritate the adults in their lives. In recent years, for some, it's meant lowering their pants and exposing all manner of boxer shorts in public.

The adults are fighting back.

"With their eyes on attracting development..." Do business make location decisions based on how high or low the locals wear their trousers? I had no idea.

Previously, Luisiana's state legislature blocked a similar bill.

More on the race and class elements of the saggy-trousers debate here.

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René

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:45 on July 20th, 2008

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

René

at 08:47 on July 20th, 2008

Don't these 'kids' get it? It's 'jailhouse style'! It's not cool! Does not attract the opposite sex. and only announces the exposer's past or possible future: jail.

Rob Peters

at 12:27 on July 20th, 2008

Just on a practical level, I've never understood why someone would want to wear their pants below their butt. It's got to be annoying to pull them up every five seconds. Surely there has to be a more convenient way to irritate parents.

Legislating underwear visibility, though, is ridiculous. It sets a precedent for weird follow up regulations: pulled-up socks, straightened hats, buttoned collars etc...