KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Legislation Could Ban Low Pants

Legislation Could Ban Low Pants

April 23, 2004
Reported by KPLC Staff

When it comes to teens and pants, how low can they go?

The issue is hot topic in the Louisiana legislature and one state lawmaker wants to outlaw low riding pants.

Made popular by rap musicians and hip hop culture more and more Louisiana teens, like those elsewhere often wear sagging pants.

But State Representative Derrick Sheppard wants lawmakers to ban people from wearing pants below the waist that reveal skin or underwear.

Sheppard insists its an effort to save the fabric of society and foster self-respect not police fashion: "It's time in our community in which we graduate from a level where you do whatever you want to do and it's all right with me to 'we shall be your brothers keeper'. And it's time not only to get our economic and political house in order but also our moral house in order."

The ACLU says the bill goes too far.

If approved, the penalty for low sung pants $500 and up to six months in jail.