A bill sponsored by Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, that would fine people for not pulling up their pants high enough has made it out of committee and will go to the full House. HB 1981 reads "Any person who, while in a public place, intentionally wears and displays his below-waist undergarments, intended to cover a person's intimate parts, in a lewd or indecent manner, shall be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $50.". It is intended to target those nice young girls who wear low rise jeans and have thongs sticking up out of the back.

Obviously the sexist male pig in me wants to cry out: "Leave those nice young girls alone!" But even the non-sexist male pig in me thinks that it isn't the government's job to try to legislate pulling up your pants. And although this is targeted at nubile young temptresses, it could easily be applied to minority yutes who often wear baggy pants pushed mid-way down their boxers. Howell seems like a bit of a nut case, in that he has also proposed bills "dealing with drivers who lean way back and people who play their car stereos obnoxiously loud."

No doubt all of these young people look rediculous. But I think it is their right nay duty to look as foolish as possible, if for no other reason than to remind the rest of the world that they are not yet ready to handle responsibility. If their parents won't make them pull up their pants, who are we to do so?

Besides it was only a few decades ago that such a standard could have been applied to two piece swim suits.