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Flint, MI police chief issues guidelines for sagging pants

Rod McCullom | Posted July 15, 2008 12:32 PM

Young men in Flint, Michigan: Watch your butts and pull up your sagging jeans. Police Chief David Dicks--that the chief's real name, "Dicks"--announces his officers will begin citing or arresting men who persist in wearing the "fashion" trend of saggy trousers that expose "skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms." This anatomically correct, pocket guide graphic was issued along to press and the fashion patrol.

On June 27, the chief issued a departmental memorandum telling officers: "This immoral self expression goes beyond freedom of expression."

The crime, he says, is disorderly conduct or indecent exposure, both misdemeanors punishable by 93 days to a year in jail and/or fines up to $500.

Dicks, 41, broke down his interpretation of the laws as such: Pants pulled completely below the buttocks with underwear showing is disorderly conduct; saggy pants with skin of the buttocks showing is indecent exposure, and saggy pants, not completely below the buttocks, with underwear exposed results in a warning.

All jokes aside, the major problem with Flint's new fashion police is their broad mandate. The chief says wearing pants below the waist gives officers "probable cause to search saggers for other crimes, such as weapon and drug possession" and that means officers will have license to frisk and search almost anyone whose outfit is considered offensive. It's another clever end-run around the Fourth Amendment.

Flint Cops Crack Down on Sagging Pants [FP]

[Original Link]

Writer and television news producer Rod McCullom is a frequent contributor to The Advocate and The Huffington Post. His blog is Rod 2.0.

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Comments 18

Carla
2008-07-15 16:15:22

I can't believe some black men still do that! I am so turned off when I see a man, and I use the term loosely, my age (23) sagging his pants. That is sooooooo the 90's!!! Get with the program brothers, sagging is played!

Tandy
2008-07-16 00:13:08

It may be "so 90's" but this law is still racist. This "law" will inevitably end up effecting more blacks than whites.

Rather we like sagging pants or not, does not make it a crime. Frankly, it is just a cultural form of dress that has been popularized by the mainstream media/entertainment industry for years. It doesn't hurt anyone.

It is so elitist and racist that we would allow law makes to target our young black men with such an unfair law.

Suz
2008-07-16 00:18:30

Tandy is right. I personally dont like seeing sagging pants, but what justifies making it against the law? They aren't showing any skin; the whole "indecent exposure" rationale is just a cop-out. No one is putting white girls who wear tiny skirts in jail, nor are we jailing women for wearing tight pants that leave little to the imagination.

This law was made to target black men...its very hard to avoid that fact.

Anonymity
2008-07-16 09:37:06

I think all black men should wear islamic dress. Nothing above the elbow and knee. And that's only for men. Then the American police system and justice system would have a peaceful state of mind.

Carla
2008-07-16 11:02:16

Yes, this law will target more black men then white, but indecent exposure has always been against the law. I don't want to see some negros ass or his front either! It is disgusting and childish. And, from the sample picture this article showed, it clearly targets men who are showing their asses. Furthermore, it is a "cultural expression" that glorifies prison culture. I don't support any aspect of black culture that celebrates dehumanization, poverty, violence, etc. So I applaud this law. If you don't want to be targeted then pull your damn pants up!

Tandy
2008-07-16 18:45:19

Carla: I agree with all that you are saying, but that still doesn't justify throwing someone in jail with killers, criminals, and drug dealers for a dress code violation.

IF we really want to help these young men, crippling them with a criminal record is somewhat counter productive. A young man can go to jail (and get a criminal record) for his pants sagging. And, consequently, he may not be able to get into college or get good jobs...

If you want to play the "indecent exposure" card, that's fine, but why not advocate for the same law to be applied to forms of dress that actually show skin, such as:

1. women who have too much cleavage out

3.women in short mini-skirts

etc...

This law is unfairly targeting black men, and giving them criminal records for a form of dress that may be tacky, but is hardly criminal.

Timothy
2008-07-16 19:30:13

Tandy, I agree. Is ironic that these people act like its so grotesque to see the slight crack of a black man's ass, but its totally acceptable to see the crack in woman's cleavage? This is such a double standard.

cmoney
2008-07-16 21:58:31

We don't need ASS police! How about just putting a foot in their asses until they pull their stupid pants up?

tandy
2008-07-16 22:17:36

cmoney: i can go for that...a foot up the ass is better than a criminal record.

Brandon
2008-07-17 09:56:30

Michigan has been in a recession so long that is now technically a depression and they have diagrams printed out telling them when to harass people for a fashion statement. African Americans have a long way to go.

Robert
2008-07-17 10:34:59

The crazy part is the 93 days to a year in Jail! How about community service, helping out at a nursing home. I also think this should only be looked at when the person actual buttocks starts to show.

Carla
2008-07-17 11:02:28

Yes, I will admit, the jail time and the probable cause part of this law is down right racist. I think a nice fat ticket will suffice.

Carla
2008-07-17 11:03:53

Robert, I second your idea. A fat ticket and community service.

MidwestGuy
2008-07-17 12:16:33

How completely dumb!

These same men could wear the same shorts without the jeans and it not be illegal. I do not know where you people live but I can say that I do not see ass cracks on the streets of any of the cities I've visited. Carla, I doubt you see much of it yourself. Unless they are going to start targeting women who show cleavage, (who I guess are glorifying prostitution) they should leave this alone

Robert
2008-07-17 17:42:44

I agree with what you are saying also Midwest guy!

chris
2008-07-18 08:30:11

Personally I think it's a JOKE, However there is no need to have your pants all the way down like that it really looks stupid

I guess me being 42 yrs old. My age is telling on me....lol

But this is definitely a tool for police to get at young Blacks and Hispanics to give them criminal records and we all know what that lead to later on in life. This is also a proposal with the city council in Paterson NJ

This is a youth fad that they will grow out of. Once they get older and realize this will not get them a decent job, or housing. It will all change. But in the meantime while they're young it will continue. But I totally agree with Midwest Guy

With all of this madness going on will America remain a free country?

GLB
2008-07-18 11:24:52

Independent of how you feel about the trend it's self, this is still racist and just another way to target black men.

Trena Sou
2012-02-08 19:17:51

Now we just need a way to get the red turtle shells to rotate around the kart.

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