Flint, MI Police Chief "Dicks" With Young Men in Sagging Pants
Young men in Flint, Michigan: Watch your butts and pull up your sagging jeans. Police Chief David Dicks—that the chief's real name, "Dicks"—announces his officers will begin citing or arresting men who persist in wearing the "fashion" trend of saggy trousers that expose "skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms." This anatomically correct, pocket guide graphic was issued to the press and the department's new fashion police.
On June 27, the chief issued a departmental memorandum telling officers: "This immoral self expression goes beyond freedom of expression."
The crime, he says, is disorderly conduct or indecent exposure, both misd
emeanors punishable by 93 days to a year in jail and/or fines up to $500.
Dicks, 41, broke down his interpretation of the laws as such: Pants pulled completely below the buttocks with underwear showing is disorderly conduct; saggy pants with skin of the buttocks showing is indecent exposure, and saggy pants, not completely below the buttocks, with underwear exposed results in a warning.
All jokes aside, the major problem with Flint's new fashion police is their broad mandate. The chief says wearing pants below the waist gives officers "probable cause to search saggers for other crimes, such as weapon and drug possession" and that means officers will have license to frisk and search almost anyone whose outfit is considered offensive. It's another clever end-run around the Fourth Amendment.
