PULL UP YOUR PANTS AND HIDE YOUR CLEAVAGE

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City Aims to Implement Dress Code
Detroit Free Press
Gina Damron
February 8, 2008
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* Freedom of Expression


Feb. 8--Brendan Asante wears his pants low and a little saggy.

But the 15-year-old may soon have to hike up his pants if some Auburn Hills officials get their way.

City Council members -- tired of seeing young men in saggy pants with exposed underwear and girls in low cut tops -- are looking into whether the city can implement a sort of citywide dress code to keep such clothing out of public places.

Councilman Henry Knight said a dress code could potentially be enforced under the city's indecency ordinance. The issue, discussed at Monday's City Council meeting, is not yet slated for a council vote.

City Manager Peter Auger said the city attorney and Police Department are researching the legality of such an ordinance.

This worries Brendan.

"The city doesn't have the authority to say what I can wear," said the Avondale High sophomore, who added that his pants drop below his underwear, but that his drawers are usually hidden by his shirt.

Towns such as Riviera Beach, Fla.; Pine Lawn, Mo.; Atlanta and several Louisiana parishes have talked about, implemented or are in the process of implementing similar ordinances targeting saggy pants. Penalities range from community service to fines.

In Atlanta, the American Civil Liberties Union has said it would challenge legislation if approved, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Mark Fancher, a staff attorney for the racial justice project of the ACLU of Michigan, believes such a measure could lead to racial profiling.

"It gives a license to police to ... arrest kids because of the way they're dressed and that's just wrong," Fancher said.

But Knight insists that the council isn't trying to violate anyone's rights.

"It's a hard issue to legislate morality, we know that," Knight said. "But, we're saying, as the city policy makers, we at least need to say, 'Is there something we can do in a situation we believe is a negative impact upon the businesses in our community?' "

Auger said the issue may not be on the agenda for the next council meeting, set for Feb. 18, but will be revisited soon.

Contact GINA DAMRON at 248-351-3293 or gdamron@freepress.com.


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Do you feel an ordinance should be passed or is this a breach of freedom of expression? Make sure to give your reasoning.

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