While walking down the street on the way to a local shop, you see two men approaching. Their clothes are baggy, caps are on sideways, and their pants are hanging so low that you can clearly see their exposed under garments. You grab your purse a little tighter and make sure you have a firm grasp on your daughter's hand. Convinced they are gang members about to rob or rape you, you slip by trying not to make eye contact with them.
Thankfully, they seem to ignore you and keep walking. They may or may not have been gang members, but regardless, their attire made you think they were. It was offensive, rude and not something you feel they should be able to get away with in public. If you think that the city should pass a law making it illegal to expose yourself in public this way ,you are not alone. Many communities have begun to pass laws requiring people to pull up their pants in public places.
While many people hail the laws as a victory for morality and decency, others call it a violation of people's civil liberties.
In New Jersey, "saggy pants" is a crime that carries a penalty of up to $200 plus 40 hours of community service for repeat offenders. A similar law was considered in Louisiana, but was ultimately rejected. In Springfield,"saggy pants" are legal to wear, but you won't be allowed to ride on the city's mass transit if your pants, shorts or skirts are worn below your waistline.
Personally, I believe that is reasonable. Any business owner should be able to refuse service to someone they feel is dressed or behaving in an inappropriate manner. It is reasonable to expect that young ladies should dress like young ladies while in church. You wouldn't wear a swimsuit to Sunday service, would you? Some high class restaurants require men to wear a jacket and tie, and will refuse service to those who don't. Health codes require shoes and shirts in almost all restaurants across the nation, even for patrons walking in off the street.
Choices do come with consequences. If you wear saggy pants, you can fully expect to be laughed at and pointed at, and no respectable person in this world is likely to take you serious. But I believe this extends well beyond the saggy pants trend. After all, poor fashion decisions are made every day.
Dressing like a gangster? That could explain why you haven't been hired for a job. Those seventeen piercings on your face probably aren't helping either. Ladies, if you feel that you are not being respected by your boyfriends you might consider dressing like ladies instead of street walkers, strippers and bar maidens.
Despite the fact that you have a right to dress or look how you want, every other American also has the right to judge you based on those choices. Expect to be treated differently by those who disapprove of your choice. Your attire will not be welcome in certain places, and that is just the way it is. If you want to wear saggy pants while hanging with your "homies", go for it. Just don't ride the bus in Springfield. If you want to wear a sexy bikini on the beach, you can. Just don't show up that way to court.
Bad fashion choices shouldn't be criminalized. True indecent exposure should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. After all, we can't have people running around stark naked in front of our children. But as much as I hate to say it, wearing "saggy pants", short shorts, thong bikinis, t-shirts with offensive slogans on them, or pretty much anything else that sufficiently covers up your bare essentials should remain legal. But if you choose to wear them, I reserve my right to point, laugh and judge you.
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