Fines go up every time the pants go down, in two cities in the United States
WASHINGTON — Trousers that dangle way below the belt and expose what the wearer has on — or just has — underneath have been banned in two southern cities in Louisiana.
"We unanimously passed the legislation because we have had so many complaints from citizens," said Alexandria city councillor Louis Marshall.
"They don't want to see men with pants hanging so low, showing their underwear and, in some cases, their posterior.
"The legislation is gender neutral: we wouldn't want to see young ladies walking down the street showing their underwear either," Mr Marshall said.
Councillors in another Louisiana city, Shreveport, passed similar legislation, although not unanimously.
Said councillor Calvin Lester: "Some people are saying this is a ban on freedom of expression but our concern was with behaviour."
Councillors in Atlanta, Georgia, are also debating whether to ban saggy pants, which is already against city law in Delcambre, Louisiana, where offenders' cheek can earn them a fine of US$500 ($760) or up to six months in jail.
In Alexandria, the punishment would be "a fine starting at US$25, that goes up every time the pants go down," said Mr Marshall.
The trend of wearing oversized trousers that fall down and expose one's rear derives from the US prison system, where inmates' belts were taken away, causing their trousers to descend far below their waists.
Opponents of saggy pants laws say they are a form of racial discrimination, as the fashion is closely linked to the hip hop culture and is very popular among young African-Americans.