South Carolina town passes ordinance banning saggy trousers

Residents could receive a citation and be fined hundreds of dollars

Youth saunter down the street with sagging trousers (Getty)

A town in South Carolina has passed a law which could fine residents up to $600 for wearing low-hanging trousers that display their underwear.

The council of Timmonsville Town passed the second reading of the ordinance with council member William James, Jr, stating that it is about “integrity and respect”, as reported by WMBF news.

“I think other towns are actually doing it, and we need to do it,” Mr James said after the first reading was passed last month. “We need to get a handle on Timmonsville. In order to clean up Timmonsville, this is one of the things we’re going to have to start (doing).”

If a resident is caught with their trousers down, law enforcement can give that person a verbal warning.

A repeat offender will receive a written warning and their name may be placed in a law enforcement registry.

A third offense will result in a citation and a fine of between $100 and $600.

The exact language of the ordinance in Timmonsville of Florence County, which has a population of more than 139,000, reads:

It shall be unlawful for any person driving or walking in the streets and roads of the Town of Timmonsville to:

(a) Engage in public nudity;

(b) display pornographic material such that others are unwantingly exposed to the same or that minors are able to view the same;

(c) display the flesh of one's rear-end, behind, or backside during stationary or movement within the city limits;

(d) wear pants, trousers, or shorts such that the known undergarments are intentional [sic] displayed/exposed to the public.

On the town council’s website, its mission statement reads: “County government assumes a proactive leadership role in determining the future direction of the county.”

Councilwoman Cheryl Qualls abstained from the vote as she had trouble with section D, which bans people from deliberately exposing their undergarments.

“It will increase racial profiling on some of our children here in Timmonsville and across the country,” she said, and added that modern clothes are just manufactured to look as if they do not fit properly.

Jasper County Council, about 100 miles away from Timmonsville, passed a similar ordinance in 2008, banning anyone from wearing trousers that fall more than three inches below the hip. Fines range from $25 to $500.

President Barack Obama told MTV in 2008 that passing a law against low-hanging pants was “a waste of time”, and officials should focus their efforts on issues like creating jobs, improving schools, health care and “dealing with the war in Iraq”.

“Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants," he said. "You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on."