Forget Fashion Police, Sagging Jeans May Be Cause For Arrest

By NICOLE McDOWELL

Sagging jeans are a common trend seen on many male students at City College, but soon it may be illegal, as cities across the country initiate laws to ban the style.

Over the last two years, at least 10 cities have created bans, fines, or community service for persons who wear sagging jeans or show 3-inches or more of their boxer shorts. Proponents of the bans argue that this trend is a violation of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. This act was created by Congress to regulate indecent and obscene material on the Internet to protect children. Law makers believe that this fashion trend is equivalent to indecent exposure.

Among the cities that are proposing such bans are Opalocka, Riviera beach, and Tallahassee, Florida; Pine lawn, Missouri; Pine Buff, Arkansas; Dallas, Texas; Flint, Michigan; Trenton, and Patterson, New Jersey; and Baltimore, Maryland.

Although several proposals have been made, they have been met with strong opposition from citizens. One judge in Florida ruled the laws unconstitutional after a 17-year-old spent a night in prison for exposing 4-inches of his boxers above his jeans.

In July 2008, Flint Michigan became one of the first cities to put the ban into law and clearly defining punishments for various lengths of exposure.
“It’s a dumb look, but to ban it is a bit much,” said Selorm, 22, of City College, said “People will just do it more anyway, kinda like that whole ’Keep off the grass’ sign thing”
According to correctional officer Charas Ebron, the look originated in prison, where belts are taken away from inmates so they couldn’t be used as weapons or to commit suicide.

Randall Duperval, 21, said “Not everyone knows where the look originated. They think ok I see weezy and other hip hop artist’s doing it, and think, hey that’s cool, I should do it too. It started in jail though, why would you want to look like you just came from jail?”

Twenty-eight year old Jayvard Smith is a District Manager for ADP, from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday he is only seen in high end tailor made suits and Ferragamo dress shoes. He dresses for success and feels the sagging pants trend is a “whack look.”

“Most of them are fake thugs.” Smith said. “They look low class and dirty. Some grow out of the trend, but too many stay with it in my opinion.”

Even on his down days, he wears polo tops and jeans that fit how they are supposed to.

Whether or not these laws come to New York is still unclear. But if the opinion of Tiffany, a City College student is what most people really think about the trend, it may not be long before students find themselves regulated by the fashion police. “They look stink with it. They can’t run, can barely walk and they always pullin ‘em up. Just put on a damn belt”. This is a good ending.