Judge Pantses Saggy Trouser Law
By Mitch Berg
The Florida “saggy pants” law – applauded by sartorial moderates and Joe Soucherays around the nation – has been tossed:
Julius Hart, 17, was charged last week after an officer said he spotted the teenager riding his bicycle with 4 to 5 inches of blue-and-black boxer shorts revealed.
Hart’s public defender, Carol Bickerstaff, urged a judge Monday to strike down the sagging pants law, telling him: “Your honor, we now have the fashion police.”
Circuit Judge Paul Moyle ruled that the law was unconstitutional based on “the limited facts” of the case. Technically, however, the charge hasn’t been dropped yet: a new arraignment awaits Hart on Oct. 5.
Voters in Riviera Beach approved the law in March. A first offense for sagging pants carries a $150 fine or community service, and habitual offenders face the possibility of jail time.
Bickerstaff said she wants the city to drop the law — regardless of whether anyone dislikes low-riding pants.
It’s a good thing it was tossed of course – it violated the Fourteenth Amendment, unduly burdening stupid people who are slaving followers of moronic fashion.
(Via Bob at A Democracy blog)
September 18th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Well, it’s not in the Constitution, but the ruling did uphold Rosenberg’s Third Law of Judicial Restraint: “you’re not going to take up our time with something as silly as that.” Walking around with saggy pants is, well, silly; hauling people into court over it, moreso.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
At a time in the past to have someone pull your trousers down (as in to be pants) was an embarrassment to say the least. Seems for some today prancing around with your butt crack and/or underwear showing is a“hip” thing. That’s bizarre and ridiculous to me; a fashion crime, but no more criminal than that.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Scott: yup. I’m not fond of judges throwing silly laws out on strange Constitutional grounds, but criminalizing bad fashion choices? If that happens here in Minnesota, I’m hoping I get to share a cell with Mitch and Flash. (For the conversation, honest.)
Still looks silly to me, as I said, just this morning, when I went out in my walker and shouted at all those kids to get off my lawn.