Florida’s Cocoa County police will be handing out fines of $250 for anyone who they see rocking saggy pants! The city council approved an ordinance banning saggy pants Tuesday night.
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According to 13 News:
Citations start at $25, $50 for a second offense, $75 for a third and $100 for each offense after that.
City leaders said it’s to make sure Cocoa is known as a family-oriented community.
The council approved the measure, which prohibits any person in public view from wearing pants or skirts three inches below the top of the waistline, exposing undergarments or skin.
According to officer Barbara Matthews of the Cocoa Police Department:
“It’s our city leaders’ vision to try and clean up the look of the city, and this is one of the steps they are taking towards that.”
Cocoa is instituting a 3-inch rule, said Matthews:
“If you are wearing your pants, and your underwear is showing, the length is three inches, we aren’t going to be out there with rulers or anything like that,” Matthews said. “It’s going to be a discretionary call.”
Critics said the new law could lead to racial profiling. They worry the city is stereotyping those who wear saggy pants as being criminals.
The saggy pants rule doesn’t take effect until 2013, and is only on public property, such as streets and sidewalks. There will be a 60-day grace period to educate the public about the new ordinance.
SOURCE: News13
