Drivers on public buses now have the power to refuse service to passengers with sagging pants, city transportation officials say.
Joan Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, said drivers are already wielding their newfound authority, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Tuesday. She said that May 12, the first day of the new policy, about 50 riders had to pull up their pants before they could board.
The agency has launched a poster campaign featuring drawings of older women and of the bottom half of a young man with his underwear showing. The message is a simple one: "Grandma says 'Pull 'em up' or find another ride."
Some riders are not happy about the new rule. Cory Shelby, a recent arrival from Miami, said he was told to pull up his pants even though his underwear was not visible.
"They'll mess with our freedom. Pretty soon they're going to ban dreadlocks, too," Shelby said.
Hunter said the authority believes the waistline-at-the-waist rule is a matter of showing respect for other passengers on the buses.
Copyright 2008 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
