The legislation would fine any person wearing their pants “below the waistline, in a public place, in a manner that exposes the person’s underwear or bare buttocks.” We can only assume females under a certain age and weight will be exempt. Per CommercialAppeal.com:
A pair of Memphis legislators argued Wednesday over whether a bill to fine people who wear their pants so low they expose their underwear amounts to “legislating fashion” or “legislating decency and hygiene.”
The “Saggy Pants Bill” makes it a misdemeanor to “knowingly wear pants below the waistline, in a public place, in a manner that exposes the person’s underwear or bare buttocks.” It defines underwear as “clothing worn between the skin and outer layer of clothing, including but not limited to boxer shorts and thongs.”
House Bill 2099 allows a citation punishable by fines of $200 to $1,000 and 40 to 160 hours of community service, but no jail time. Proceeds from fines would buy school books, band and sports equipment.
Sponsored by Rep. Joe Towns and Sen. Ophelia Ford, both Memphis Democrats, the bill won approval in a House subcommittee Wednesday after an exchange between Towns and Rep. Karen Camper, D-Memphis, who opposed it as unnecessary.
The discussion opened with a wink and a nod — “This is the ‘crack’ bill, and I think any respectable citizen would be against crack,” said Towns — but moved quickly into a face-off over the role of government, individual expression and decency…
The bill is next set for review April 1 in the House Judiciary Committee. The Senate version hasn’t begun moving…
If this bill passes could someone be fined for wearing no pants at all? If so our summer trip to Dollywood may be off.
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