Pamplico prepares for final vote to ban sagging pants
Angela E. Kershner/MORNING NEWS
The town of Pamplico is considering passing an ordinance to ban the wearing of sagging pants.
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By Charles Tomlinson
Lake City News & Post Editor
Published: August 3, 2008
Wearing sagging pants could become a misdemeanor in Pamplico later this month, although Jasper County has delayed the ordinance on which the town modeled its proposal.
Pamplico Town Councilwoman Cynthia Parks said officials want to teach children and youths respect, which isn’t being shown when they’re “walking wide-legged” to keep their pants from falling.
“I feel that it’s indecent exposure,” Parks said. “I shouldn’t have to look at your underwear (when I’m) walking down the street.”
The style began in the 1990s, when it was made popular by hip-hop artists.
On July 21, the council unanimously passed first reading of an ordinance that would make it a misdemeanor to wear one’s pants more than three inches below the hips, thereby exposing skin or “intimate clothing.”
No town residents spoke on the issue during last month’s meeting.
The ordinance, which doesn’t yet specify any penalties, must pass a second and final reading before going into effect.
Pamplico’s next town council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18.
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Jasper County Council announced last week that it was delaying final action on its sagging pants ordinance amid questions of legality and enforcement, The Associated Press reported.
Pamplico Mayor Gene Gainey said the council will discuss the issue with the town’s attorney, Jimmy Epps of Lake City.
“It’s just a fad that’s going on, but, to me, it’s one that’s just going a little overboard,” Gainey said.
In Pamplico, the town’s police would be responsible for enforcing such a ban, Pamplico Police Chief Steve Bowen said.
He said there are no particular parts of town where sagging pants are most commonly seen.
“It’s no particular area, no,” Bowen said. “I don’t see where we have a major problem with it, but it’s a common fad where kids wear their pants like that.”
Avalon Graham, 31, of Pamplico said he’d heard about the proposed ordinance at his job.
“I ain’t got a problem with it,” he said.
Graham, who was wearing baggy jeans while walking around town Wednesday, said the ordinance wouldn’t affect him because he doesn’t normally sag his pants. Instead, he said, it would affect “young kids” who have adopted the style.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( CitizenRights ) on August 06, 2008 at 10:43 pm
To everyone that likes this ban. You need to think again. You might not like the way people dress and some might not be able to do better any better than handed down clothes that would be to big. If you do not like it, turn away and do not look. This ban will not stand if challenged to the State Supreme Court level. You can not ban bagging pants or short shirts if it does not exposure the private areas. You can look up the definition at the state Code of Laws website. Neither County nor City can rewrite the definition to suit their needs that is against state and federal laws. This law will not last and it is like me saying I think we should outlaw breastfeeding in public in Florence. The state and federal laws allow for it and it is not indecent exposure.
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Posted by ( Reader123 ) on August 05, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Its not a ‘fad’ that they are going thru. There were students I went to high school with 12 years ago who wore thier pants like this. I remember distinctly running up stairs to go to class behind one of these fellows and his pants dropped clear to his ankles when he bounded to the last step. Didnt seem to faze him a bit. And for those folks who say “Dont blame the children, its how they were raised.“ I beg to differ. Some of it may be how they are raised, but it is ultimately each person’s own responsibility for what they wear and how they act… and as far as i’m concerned 13 or 14 year olds or older, are not children. They’re competent to make their own decisions and should be treated as such and held accountable.
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Posted by ( jane ) on August 04, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This is an ordinance that should be state wide! It is ridiculous the way some people dress. It is either buts hanging out of pants or skirts too short…..but then again, you know what, most of this goes back to the parents…..my son is 24 and my daughter is 21 and neither of them live at home with me but, I can promise you that neither of them would ever go in public with something of that effect. I know parents have no control over their kids once they leave the house but the law could pick up things when the parents can’t. It is time something is done….Things have gotten way out of hand!
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Posted by ( jowens ) on August 04, 2008 at 11:04 am
Mr. Mookie
I totally agree with you about Marion having such a ban. It’s despicable to ride through a historical town and have to look at such a disgrace. We know its not the children’s its how they were raised.
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Posted by ( realybored2day ) on August 04, 2008 at 10:42 am
Couldn’t help it Tigerfan the two were standing right in front of me…Lost my appetite and couldn’t finish lunch…Left the resturaunt and will never go back…It is a resturaunt that City and County Employees go to often…Will never go there again…
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Posted by ( Doctor Razz ) on August 04, 2008 at 10:33 am
Not to worry, if they don’t get arrested for this these BUMS will get arrested for something else.
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Posted by ( tigerfan ) on August 04, 2008 at 9:43 am
To realybored2day, Sounds like you watched these girls the entire time they were in the restaurant by reading your post.
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Posted by ( realybored2day ) on August 04, 2008 at 9:29 am
It won’t matter if they pass the ban against baggy pants or not. People that wear baggy pants are going to do it anyway. Indecent exposure is a joke in Florence County. I was in a local resturaunt not too long ago and 4 women walked in. Two of them were dress nicely and the other two had on skirts so short that you could see everything God gave them. It was horrible. You could see all the fat on their behinds and when they bent over to sit down well, it was just sickening. There were two FC deputys sitting right there and all they did was look and grin. Those two women should have been arrested for indecent exposure. We couldn’t eat because it was sickening. Therefore why are you going to bother to pass an ordinance when no when in Law Enforcement is going to back it up. Besides lets not forget that at least those children who wear the baggy pants make it easy for cops if they run. The pants fall down around the ankles and the cops don’t have to run too far to catch them.
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Posted by ( Mr. Mookie ) on August 04, 2008 at 9:04 am
Would love to see Marion follow suit.
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Posted by ( Scott 44 ) on August 03, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Take the little wannabee jail birds to the local ball field, remove their pants and paddle them.
Hillary says it takes a village to raise a child, let the villages take action by taking back the streets and schools.
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