Several residents have asked the Fayette County Commission to outlaw pants “sagging,” a fashion style paraded by young men that leaves some or much of their underwear exposed in the rear.
But one man’s fashion is another’s faux pas, at least judging by the four people who spoke against sagging. Each of them urged the commission to enact an ordinance similar to those used by other communities. They said they have seen youths with saggy pants in several places in the community.
Tricia McCarney said she felt that if she were walking on the streets while sagging, she would probably be cited.
“This is not the way we want this community to be,” McCarney said.
Rob Scogin said he hoped the commission could enforce sagging under a public indecency law.
Charles Culp said he sees sagging youths often, particularly at the Fayette Pavilion shopping center.
At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Allen McCarty said he favored the ban in part because of the fine revenue that it will give the county.
“Generally, my experience in different places I have been is that type of dress usually leads to incentives for people who don’t mind looking in your car,” McCarty said, noting that saggers who commit crimes find it harder to run from police, though he said they will “pull them up” as they run away.
Commission Chairman Herb Frady said he would rather wait for the county attorney to provide feedback on whether such a ban would be feasible under current law.
“It’s something we’ve never done before,” Frady said, also noting that the Pavilion is located in the city of Fayetteville, so any county ordinance would not be enforceable there.
