Don't the police have better things to do than be resident Tim Gunns???

It's no more racist than assuming that wearing baggy pants is only the tendency of one race.

Maybe the cops figure at least they'll be able to catch any droopy britches suspect who tries to run away. Are they targeting women in shirts don't cover enough?

$500 for indecent exposure? Does this also apply to women who insist on revealing their thongs?

Are people really going to go to jail for this? I know that's what he said, but will police officers actually arrest 100's of people a day?

Oh God please say it's so lovelie. I am so tired of seeing underwear on everyone. Let's all promise to buy shirts and pants that actually fit us. I also get irked at outfits that are waaaay too tight.

While I think that baggy pants that show one's underwear is tacky, equally as offensive is a man of any race wearing blue jean shorts.

As much as I would *love* to establish a fashion court, in reality, this is best left to the producers of TLC and Bravo. Crimes against fashion piss me off (I don't want to see your boxers, thongs, or bra straps), but bad dressers shouldn't go to jail.

Maybe I'll move to Flint, MI...apparently they have no crime there if they have to make up new laws to enforce.

If they are going to arrest these guys, they need to do the same thing for women with their thongs and bras showing. If they want to call it racism then they need to add sexism too.

Although $500 and up to three months in jail is insane for this! I could see maybe a $25-50 fine and thats it. The new hands free cell phone law in CA is only $20 and that is something that is actually dangerous!

there are probably plenty of white kids who are into "hip hop" culture in flint, mi. who are also sagging... if african american kids are disproportionately arrested then, yes, it's racism. all of that aside, this can only be something they are doing to draw attention to what they perceive to be a problem. there's no way they can actually arrest people for this. it's ridiculous.

This reminds me of the Tipping Point. Of course they can arrest people for it on grounds of public indecency. It is a waste of time, though.

Lame. Don't know if it's racist (can't tell if my racial spidey-sense is tingling...it's a bit late in the afternoon for that ) but it just sounds stupid.

I don't really think it's racist, though. Wow, way to complete my thoughts the first time! And I have heard it at least suggested that women be arrested for having thongs hang out. I don't know about this specific situation, though.

It's not racist. It's just plain stupid. People should be able to dress or not dress however they want as long as their private bits aren't hanging out. Does it fit the letter of the law for public indecency? If not, leave it alone. If so - charge them in court. No point of having the law if it's not going to be enforced.

ew, no one should dress like that anyway.

I don't know if it's racist since I've seen just as many whites wearing sagging pants as blacks. Flint's economy is one of the worst in the country. I'm sure they're scrambling for any excuse to bring in more cash...

I don't believe this is racially motivated. This is cultural discrimination not color discrimination. The cultures in question are the Rap & Hip/Hop culture. Personally I think the style of hanging ones @$$ outside their pants is absurd but I respect the cultural expression as just that, it's just not my cup of tea that's all. Now if they are exposing the crack of their bottom or their genitalia that is a whole other story. I don't thing that anyone in this matter is going to get arrested. This is an infraction and individuals will only be ticketed.

I've always wanted to conduct a sociological experiment and take the top five most popular and respected rap & hip hop artists in the industry and pay them to start a completely absurd style such as wearing women’s sun hats or cutting one pant leg completely off up to the top of the thigh while leaving the other long and see how many youthful fans follow suit.

Excellent point, stiletta!

hypnoticmix, a friend of mine did a similar experiment. The "most popular guy" at school started wearing hideous plaid shorts, back in 2002 (I realize they're popular now, and they always make me laugh and think of him) and within a few weeks, lots of people at school were doing the same.

"It's no more racist than assuming that wearing baggy pants is only the tendency of one race."

Ohhhh...good point.

The funny thing is that I heard that the trend originated in prison...but that it was the signal of backdoor availability, if you know what I mean.

On another note if I were a police officer I would give baggy pants thumbs up for purposes of apprehension. It makes it a whole lot easier if you have to chase down a criminal. Watching someone try and run in those things it's hysterical.

I know what you mean. Teehee.

Is there no other crimes to worry about in Flint??? Way too much time on the cops hands there if you ask me.

I can see where some people might associate baggy pants and that whole look with gang activity, but seriously, this is absurd. What's next? Will they start arresting women who pair super-short skirts with stripper heels, even when they're not hookers?

This is completely on a side note and I don't know what brings it to mind but I hate it when I go into a store and they make me leave my bag behind the counter. I straight up tell them as soon as you go around the store and round up all the women’s purses I'll be more than happy to put my bag behind the counter but until then I'm keeping my bag. I've never had anyone argue that logic.

I don't think its racism, and as a black woman i personally can't stand when boys of any color wear their pants with the undies showing!

I was standing outside of my apartment building this afternoon talking on my cell to my mother. And this guy rolls around the corner with his underwear in plain sight - and they weren't boxers either. Dude was white - so not sure if it's eally all that racist to ban it. It's just indecent exposure.

Don't MOST laws lead to arrests of mostly minorities? That's not racism, that's just an unpleasant truth. I guess it's not a wise way for these police to spend their time, but they'll be collecting lots of money from the penalties, so that's good. Meh.

I would like to hear from those who voted this as racist.
I don't see how this can be racist, people of all colors wear different styles. I know plenty of different people who went through the "baggy pants" faze, including my brother
but Flint, MN must really have some extra time on its hands

If I had to guess, there's a good chance the law won't last too long since they're basing it on public indecency -- and, of course, the potential for race-differential effects.

However... there have been pretty impressive demonstrations of just how much STUFF can be hidden in low-riding pants -- particularly weapons. Weapons, of course, invoke an interest in public safety -- and courts will be less likely blow off a public safety issue than a public indecency issue (but, even with a safety issue, disparity in application could result in the law being invalidated)

but the whole public indecency thing... I mean, I find it hard to argue that saggin' britches are public indecency when we've got the entire side of a building dedicated to the wonders of Armani underwear and Beckham's package

I don't think this is racist at all. I do think it's a huge infringement on civil rights. I get more offended when I see fat people wearing tight clothes, or people wearing flip-flops (seriously feet are disgusting). I'm not going to run to city hall and whine about it though.

Maybe we should ban swimsuits next *rolls eyes*. How is a bikini any different from underwear? People in this country need to straighten out their priorities, and start worrying about themselves, as opposed to what people are wearing.

wow that's all i have to say. i mean i can't stand seeing a guy's ass literally hanging out their pants but over the years it has been a fashion statement but really the police needs to focus on more important things especially in MI. and i hope they are not just focusing on the black americans b/c now a days, every guy of diff. race has their ass hanging out......please!

Seeing bikinis at the beach, or near the beach (or swimming pool) is fine, but it isn't kosher elsewhere. It's about dressing appropriately for where you are going. I wouldn't expect to see a bathing suit in church, and more than I would expect to see a 3 piece suit at the beach. People who tend to dress inappropriately tend to also be the ones who act inappropriately.

I understand what you're saying about dressing for your setting... However anyone that is upset with seeing someone in their underwear, you should be equally upset with seeing someone in a bikini. You're still seeing someone half-naked. Does water really change that? That's all I'm saying. How do you determine what's inappropriate anyways? It's a totally subjective thing.

I'm trying very hard not to get into a discussion about what bathing suits look like. Most bathing suits cover adaquately, like a tank top. I have a problem with thong bikinis. (OK, I like'em, but....) There are some things that shouldn't be shared with the whole world.

Definitely not racially motivated. I've seen the style in other countries and older generations are quick to discriminate against it simply because of the 'hip hop' culture it is derived from. I mean, we don't have many black people in Japan. So, as you can imagine, we have a lot of Japanese youth who appreciate the culture immensely. Older folks, not so much...

I refer to guys who dress like this as "hip hop clowns." The baggy pants reminds me of clown clothes. It is very un-sexy. Nothing attractive about it at all. I agree with other when they say that if they are going to charge men with public indecency for baggy pants, then they should press charges against women showing their thongs, bra straps ect. That's what they did in my high school. Girls weren't allowed to wear tank tops because they were considered to be "distracting" to the male student body, but boys weren't allowed to wear pants that exposed their underwear. There were a lot of Fred Durst and DMX wanna bes in that school who were put in detention for showing their boxers. I got sent home for wearing a tank top that didn't expose my bra. Personally, I think policing fashion is just a waste of time.

Around here, I see just as many white and hispanic guys dressing as hip hop clowns as I do black guys. Based on that, I would have to say it isn't racially motivated, but then again, I don't know the racial make up of Flint.

Some town in here South carolina wants to do this too. I heard it on pubilc radio the other day & all I could think was "don't they have some meth labs that need busting?"

As a taxpayer, it sincerely would piss me off to pay the police force to be the fashion police. Yes, I hate baggy pants, and think people should "buy clothes that fit," but I also think people shouldn't wear black tall socks with sandals and white shoes, EVER. As gross as it can get, it doesn't really reach to the extent of indecent exposure either...so....I would think something would have to be exposed for that.

I don't think it's necessarily racist, but I think the law is motivated by what white, older people think is acceptable dress.

It may sound that way, but there is a little logic too it. If there was a sudden rash of crimes committed by people who are described as old and wearing black socks with sandals, then I could see targeting old people who wear black socks with sandals.

UD! I just had a mental image of a bunch of old cronies running around with black socks and sandals holding up banks and running amok! !!!!!!!!!!!!

i think its nobodies Business to decide for ppl wat 2 wear if they dont like it they dont have to look at them plus i think their style is very cute plus it sucks when you get arrested for your CLOTHES...

i think their style is very cute

nooo its not cute

anyhoo, i can see the mentality and it has nothing to do with indecent exposure. its the stereotype that the hoodlums are wearing baggy pants and certain colors. its like when we go to the clubs in la and the dress code states no baggy pants, white tees or baseball caps. its an association thing. is it wrong? yes. is it a waste of taxpayer money? yes. will eventually be ruled unconstitutional? absolutely!

This is such a waste of police time. How are they going to decide how baggy is too baggy anyway? Is everyone going to have to start wearing skinny jeans to avoid being arrested? Because those can be pretty indecent looking too! Will the police get out a ruler and start measuring crotch lengths? Will they then get sued for harassment if so..?

Uh UnDave, are you suggesting that Flint instituted the law to have another way to arrest people who are "responsible for a rash of crimes" so that they don't have to have to actually have cause for arresting them? I'm pretty sure you actually have to have cause to suspect a person for committing a specific crime before arresting the person. So, instituting a law to arrest people on the basis of the way they look is pretty unconstitutional, and I'm guessing this law will be struck down. Unless of course they can prove that the exposure is actually undecent, and that really is why they are arresting these men, but I highly doubt that will be successful either!

Baggy clothes make the most street hardened thug look like a complete clown, but there's nothing indecent about them. They just look stupid and always have. Now that they're finally going out of style, these idiots risk making them cool again by trying to ban them. Dumb idea; probably unconstitutional.