Flint joins in on the war against crack!

[Raev]

For what it's worth, I'm against this kind of law but have to agree that excessively sagging pants makes me want to kick someone in the teeth for a half hour or so.

This is the article

New Flint Police Chief David Dicks orders police to crack down on sagging pants

by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal

Friday June 27, 2008, 6:00 PM

Feedback: What do you think of the plan to crack down on sagging pants in the city of Flint? Tell us your view on our feedback blog.

FLINT, Michigan -- The city's new police chief is saying no to crack.

Acting Flint Police Chief David R. Dicks announced Thursday that officers will begin arresting people wearing pants or shorts that sag too low exposing rear ends.

"This immoral self expression goes beyond free speech," said Dicks in a statement released Thursday. "It rises to the crime of indecent exposure/disorderly persons."

It's a style that irks many -- a few cities nationwide have banned the rear-revealing pants -- but the order also raises serious questions about how it would be enforced, if it disproportionately targets young black men and if ultra-low riders should be considered Constitutionally protected.

So, is Dicks going too far?

Greg Gibbs, an ACLU attorney in Flint, said how people wear their clothing is a form of expression but cautions that not all of those forms are protected by the Constitution.

"The issue is: Does it violate the First Amendment?" said Gibbs, adding he plans to research the issue further.

Some Flint residents are all for busting those who go bottoms out.

"It's overdue," said Sam Berry, 73, of Flint.

Gwendolyn R. Allen, 72, of Flint agreed.

"It's so disgusting ... It's disgraceful."

Claude Carter, 49, of Flint sees the issue differently though. He said wearing pants in that manner is a fad -- not a crime.

"I see young and old wearing their pants that way," said Carter. "It doesn't annoy me."

The crackdown on buttocks is an apparent response to "significant" complaints from citizens, according to Dicks.

Under the chief's orders, any sworn officer who sees "sagging/exposing buttocks" will have probable cause to make an arrest under the city's disorderly person ordinance -- a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and three months in jail.

Flint NAACP President Frances Gilcreast is no fan of the style but worries about police focusing on a fashion favored by young black men.

"I'm not interested in looking at anyone's underwear," said Gilcreast. "My concern is how (the policy) will be applied equitably."

Some Flint police officers, however, aren't too sure how they will enforce it.

"What about plumber's crack?" said Keith Speer, president of the Flint Police Officers Association.

In the past, Speer said officers would issue warnings if too much skin was showing but reserved the handcuffs for full moons.

"Most of the time, if they're wearing sagging pants they're also wearing boxers," said Speer.

Memo notwithstanding, Speer doesn't expect any big changes in how officers handle the issue.

"It's like issuing a memo telling officers to enforce the law," said Speer. "Are we going to get a memo every time somebody complains?"

[know_buddy_kares]

I honestly don't see why anyone would bitch about this rule... I mean there's plenty of other laws that need to be abolished, but this is one of the tedious laws that will actually make public places a bit more pleasant for everybody. I really don't want to go to the mall to see some ghetto thug's shit stained dingy boxers to be honest..

Someone really needs to clue these idiots in on this whole "prison style". It's prison bitches that do this, to show they want it up the ass...

Maybe a few fines to these fuck sticks will spare us sights that no one needs to see.

It's pretty sad in our culture that we actually have to make laws to get people to act like civilized human beings instead of l a bunch of fucking baboons runnin around.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

first 2 things that came to mind:

1) the police chief's name is DICKS?

2) "sagging/exposing buttocks"...that's a lot of people facing arrest.

[Raev]

First -

It is not the role of the government to regulate fashion. There are already laws in place in regard to indecent exposure. Beyond that, it's a matter of fashion/taste or lack thereof. I don't like the look but I don't believe the government should be regulating fashion. If someone wants to look like an ignorant walking punchline, so be it.

Second-

It's not about "wanting it up the ass" in prison. It's origins are prison based yes - but it's main origin is the belt not being allowed, to prevent suicide.

[know_buddy_kares]

look, if it takes jail time for these fucks to stop being such a godforsaken eyesore, i'm all for it.

[ttogreh]

Hmm. Exposed buttocks or undergarments is the rule? All this is going to do is have folks buy belts and still wear size 64 pants on a 32 inch waist.

It'll make them look as though they are wearing kilts, or something...

[n0Mad]

I think I should just be given carte blanche to use my bullwhip on any exposed ass. If all you've got is boxers protecting you, I may very well slice skin at worst, raise a nasty welt at best. After that experience you better believe they'll want some thick denim protecting their ass.

[creatureofthenyte]

I bet if more people knew about that prison thing, they would not wear their pants like that. But unfortunately they choose to follow a STUPID fad, like the blind, mindless sheep that they are.

[Homicidalheathen]

Hahaha! I thought you ment the other kind of crack.

but yah..either crack stinks lol