Covington councilman against 'droopy drawers' in city

Covington City Council will weigh in on the issue of banning saggy pants in the near future.

Council members were originally scheduled to address the matter at their Monday night meeting, but Channel 2 Action News has learned the topic has been postponed for discussion until a later time.

Councilman Chris Smith is proposing the ordinance. He said he doesn't want the lasting impression of his city to be "droopy drawers."

"We're a clean, good community here in Covington. I just don't want the perception of people visiting here to maybe sometime see something they don't want to see," Smith told Channel 2's Diana Davis.

Though he admits it is hard to keeping up his pants, 14-year-old Jamarcus Latimore insists that saggy pants are "swag."

"When you're walking down the street, if you need to run somewhere, it's hard," Latimore said.

Smith's ordinance would put a stop to the trend for those whose pants hang three inches below the top of the hips, showing off underwear. First-time offenders would get a $25 fine. Each subsequent offense would require a $200 fine.

Smith's colleague on the council, Janet Goodman, also hates saggy pants but said she'd rather not "fool with" establishing an ordinance.

"I just don't think government has time for that," Goodman said. "They're too many other things that are far more important than how somebody wears their pants."

Tyler Miller, a 16-year-old, said he understands some adults don't like saggy pants, but establishing an ordinance that bans the trend would violate his rights.

Meanwhile, Smith stresses that the proposed ordinance is just an idea, noting that he followed fashion trends, like wearing long hair in his youth.

If the proposal passes, Covington will join Forest Park, Hampton and Jonesboro which has similar policies in place.

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WSBTV