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Sagging Pants Bill Doesn't Hold Up

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2008

It's obvious that state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, has a real problem with young people showing their underwear. For three years he has filed bills that would require "fashion police" to patrol public schools and suspend kids wearing droopy drawers. Most of his efforts have failed in committee, but he's back with new legislation to deal with the adolescent crime of going beltless.

The other day the Prekindergarten-12th Grade Education Committee approved Siplin's latest "pull up your britches" bill, and it will go to the Senate floor when the Florida Legislature convenes in March. Repeat offenders could receive 10-day suspensions from school. Surely a legislative panel whose purview is education has more important matters to tend to.

For starters, fashion is not a legislative issue, in school or out. And many school districts already ban visible underwear. State mandates are not needed.

In Hillsborough, the policy states: "Clothing not properly fastened. ...shall not be worn. ... All pants and shorts shall be secured at the waist."

Yes, many adults object to seeing youngsters with oversized pants hanging below their posteriors. And it doesn't help to know the style likely came from prison, where beltless prisoners wear pants that hang low.

But parents, not government, should be the primary enforcers of what students wear to school. If parents fail in their duties, as they often do, school administrators are empowered to address it.

Siplin's sagging-pants bill is overreaching and redundant. It should die on the Senate floor.

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