Flint MI Cracks Down On Cracks
July 10, 2008 – 12:04 am PT by MikeTags: Flint, Freep, Saggy Pants —
Back when I was in Jr. High, there was a strict ban on saggy oversized pants because they were associated with cholos and gangsters. Gang violence saw a bit of an epidemic while I was growing up, but not too bad. It was more of a joke really. But the school district felt that they needed to do something to put an end to the violence, and one of those things was to ban all baggy pants. That meant that if you were to take your belt off, your pants had to stay on above your waist. And that would actually be their baggy pants test, to actually take off your belt in front of the students to see if they would stay on.
Well unfortunately for me and a few other skaters, we suffered the wrath of the school’s baggy pants law. Instead of going after real gangsters, the school went after us because I guess we were easier targets to make examples of. And we would risk getting in trouble because when we made our parents buy us $50 Blind jeans, we would want to show them off of course. Plus these were the days tight Joey Ramone pants weren’t exactly in style like they are now. We needed that extra legroom, or at least we felt we did.
So as many as 3-4 times a month, we would get caught with our baggy jeans and the price you pay for wearing them is a call home to our moms and we had to wear our P.E. shorts all day. I didn’t care though, I basically wore them whenever I wanted and just hid behind bushes every time a counselor was around. And they caught me hiding, I would just act like I was tying my shoes.
In retrospect, the school’s rule seems silly but coming across this article on Freep.com, just seems outright unbelievable. Basically the city of Flint in Michigan has put a ban on sagging pants. As you can see from the chart below, there are different variables on how low your pants are and what law you would be breaking. At least the gangsters in Flint will look like nice gentleman.
5 Responses to “Flint MI Cracks Down On Cracks”
Do you guys snake all your news from Transworld?
By Why on Jul 10, 2008
LOL! You are incorrect. We snake our news from a ton of places or get press releases or (imagine) we cover events in person including the TWS Awards.
Thanks for nuthin.
By Greg on Jul 10, 2008
Its about time something like this came into effect. Its been a long time coming. Its sad that we have to make this a law, but whatever makes citizens think about being decent human being is worth it
By Ashley on Apr 19, 2009
Ashley I can’t imagine having someone tell me that I can’t wear baggy pants when more revealing clothing is worn by others. Cheerleaders outfits show more than saggy pants. Most of the clothes young women wear everyday. If laws pertaining to personal choice are passed against baggy pants next will be the shoes or the blouses or the bathing suits. I am in my 50′s and value my freedoms, letting such laws be passed is an asault on our freedom to choose. I personally do not like seeing young men with their butts hanging out, or their underwear showing but I have served my country to protect the rights of everyone to wear what they choose.
By sue on Jul 30, 2010
My son is 11 years old wears his hat to the right and lets his pants low or saggy. He is a straight “A” student 4.0, involved in sports throughout the year football, AAU basketball, and little league baseball. Goes to church, very involved in volunteering and working in our community and has earned the right to wear his pants as he pleases.
I told him if questioned by anyone to let them know under the 1st amendment of the constitution he has the right to “Freedom of Expression”, and to tell folks, it is an artistic expression of the beauty inside of him.
Don’t Hate, regulate, initiate, or innovate….
By Trippa "Ole" Gee on Jul 30, 2010