Droopy-pants bill gets dropped in Virginia Senate
Thursday February 10, 2005RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia lawmakers dropped their droopy-pants bill Thursday after the whole thing became just too embarrassing.
The bill, which would have slapped a $50 fine on people who wear their pants so low that their underwear is visible in ``a lewd or indecent manner,'' passed the state House on Tuesday but was killed by a Senate committee two days later in a unanimous vote.
Republican Sen. Thomas K. Norment said news reports implied that lawmakers were preoccupied with droopy pants.
``I find that an indignation, which dampens my humor,'' Norment said.
Republican Sen. Kenneth Stolle, the committee chairman, called the bill ``a distraction.''
The committee hearing drew a standing-room-only crowd that included about 75 government students from Surry County High School.
``If people in Florida can wear bikinis, a little underwear showing isn't going to hurt anybody,'' 17-year-old Elvyn Shaw said.
The bill's sponsor, Democratic Delegate Algie T. Howell, declined to answer reporters' questions Thursday but issued a statement saying the bill ``was in direct response to a number of my constituents who found this to be a very important issue.''
He has said the constituents included customers at his barber shop who were offended by exposed underwear.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
