Ocala Cracks Down on Saggy Pants

Ocala residents with pants that sag might want to invest in a belt or two. The city council there has officially outlawed wearing pants in public that visibly expose bare buttocks or underwear.

The city council approved the new rule on Tuesday by a unanimous vote. The ordinance essentially makes it illegal to wear pants that fall 2 inches or more below a person’s natural waist on any property owned by the city, according to MyFoxOrlando.

While the rules might not seem too restrictive considering they only apply to city property, the reality is that adds up to a lot of public spaces. Fox says the new rules apply to any land directly owned or leased by the city, which includes streets, parks, sidewalks, municipal buildings and public transportation.

Tuesday wasn’t the first time Ocala city leaders explored the possibility of passing such a law. The first time was back in 2009 when Councilwoman Mary Rich floated the notion. That time around, the ordinance didn’t get a second as other city leaders feared such a law would equate to racial profiling, according to Channel 10.

Ocala isn’t the first location to outlaw baggy pants. A town in New Jersey has even gone so far as to ban skirts that are too short and many schools have cracked down saggy attire in their dress codes.

Baggy pants wearers in Ocala can now be fined up to $500 and may even serve jail time, Fox reported.

What do you think about Ocala’s law? Good idea or racial profiling? Share your thoughts by commenting below!