Since the Greenwood City Council decided to examine the possibility of an ordinance concerning saggy pants, Greenwood Police Chief Henry Purnell has been looking at how other Mississippi cities have addressed the issue.
At least 10 Mississippi municipalities have passed such bans. Another goes into effect in Wiggins on Sept. 1.
Most of the ordinances Purnell has examined prohibit anyone from wearing pants or skirts that ride more than three inches below the top of the hips and expose either skin or underwear.
The ordinances typically have a $50 fine for the first offense and $200 for repeat violations, Purnell said.
“I’ve got ones from Philadelphia, Columbus and Tupelo,” he said. “They’re basically the same; they’re just worded a little differently.”
Still, the chief said, any Greenwood ordinance would be difficult to enforce at the start. Young men often have several pairs of undergarments on, making it harder to issue citations, he said.
The chief said in the past the city has attempted to deal with this issue by using the statute on indecent exposure — with varying degrees of success.
If the city adopts an ordinance, it will have to pass constitutional muster and meet with the approval of Greenwood Municipal Court Judge Carlos Palmer once cases start arriving in court, Purnell said.
City Attorney Don Brock raised the same points last month when Ward 1 Councilman Johnny Jennings discussed placing an ordinance on the council’s study agenda.
Brock, who could not be reached Thursday, also said he wanted to examine the conviction rates from other cities that have adopted such laws.
Jennings said the issue won’t be acted on quickly.
“We were thinking about other cities and how they enforce theirs,” he said.
Jennings said the council’s general consensus that something needs to be done to address drooping drawers is a hopeful sign. Saggy pants are “not reflective of good character in a person,” he said.
Jennings said the council is still seeking feedback from citizens as it examines the issue more fully. The laws in other cities seemed to have worked, helping to move saggy pants away “from being a fad,” he said.
“I’m hoping that’s what it will do,” Jennings said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
