Choosing the right outfit in the morning could save you time and money – up to $250 and 16 hours to be exact. Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph recently signed an ordinance approved by a 5-4 vote prohibiting the exposing of undergarments and cross-dressing in the parish.
The law specifically forbids anyone to “be found in a state of partial nudity” or to dress in a manner “not becoming to his or her sex.” It also bans “any indecent exposure” of any “person or undergarments.”
Those found in violation will be fined $50 on the first offense and $100 on the second. A third time offender will be fined another $100 and must complete 16 hours of community service.
District 6 Councilman Lindel Toups, author of the ordinance, argued in a meeting held July 10 that he was not “after” young people with the ban, but rather felt it would push them to be more respectful and educated.
Michael Matherne, District 3 Councilman and Nicholls Director of Campus Recreation, voted against the ordinance because he felt it was a fashion issue.
“I think it puts us on a slippery slope to ban other unpopular things in the future,” Matherne said. “What will be next? Green shoes or long hair? It opens a can of worms.”
Beau Landry, marketing junior from Morgan City, said although the ban does not apply to the way he dresses, he thinks it will probably be ineffective for those it does apply to.
“I think the ban is a good idea to a certain extent but won’t stop people from doing it,” Landry said. “People don’t care and will dress how they want. It’s like high school uniforms, people won’t pay attention.”
According to Matherne, the ordinance only refers to public property. It also doesn’t apply to within unincorporated areas of the parish, which includes the city limits of Thibodaux, Lockport and Golden Meadow.
Matherne said it is up to the deputies to use their discretion in enforcing this law, like all others. He said many people could see this as another mechanism to profile and harass black men because this style of dress is more popular in the black community.
Amendments to the ban, such as restricting the scope to “below-waist” undergarments, are currently under discussion.
Other towns such as Mansfield and Delcambre have already adopted similar bans against saggy pants.
