Teh One Who Knocks
01-14-2012, 01:07 AM
The Associated Press
SHREVEPORT, La. — Caddo Parish District 3 Commissioner Michael Williams doesn’t care to see people in their PJs, at least not at a shopping center, restaurant or anywhere else in public.
Williams said after seeing a group of young men at a local Walmart wearing pajama pants that revealed one young man’s private parts, he decided to push for an ordinance that would prohibit wearing pajama pants in public.
“Pajamas are designed to be worn in the bedroom at night,” Williams said. “If you can’t (wear pajamas) at the Boardwalk or courthouse, why are you going to do it in a restaurant or in public? Today it’s pajamas,” Williams said. “Tomorrow it’s underwear. Where does it stop?”
Khiry Tisdem, of Shreveport, has no problem going out in his “Family Guy” Stewie pajama pants.
“I wear my (pajama) pants anywhere,” Tisdem said. “I’m an American, and I can wear my clothes anywhere I want. I’m a grown man. I pay my own bills, so I can wear my clothes the way I want. I don’t know why it’s an issue.”
Tracy Carter, also of Shreveport, was out shopping Thursday with her 3-year-old son, Aaron — she in her Valentine’s Day fuzzy pajama pants and Aaron in dinosaur pajamas.
“We all wear our pajamas out,” Carter said. “I can get out of the bed and go to the store, and they’re covering everything. I’ve got a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 12-year-old to deal with.”
One problem with a possible ordinance is what constitutes pajamas. Williams said it could be defined as a garment sold in the sleepwear section of department stores, and violators should not go to jail but perform community service.
“It’s going to be very difficult to enforce the way it’s described, although I’ve not seen anything in writing,” Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator said.
The city of Shreveport has a no-sagging law. In 2011, Shreveport police reported 31 incidents involving “wearing of pants below the waist in public.” Most of those were unattached to other more serious crimes, and the offenders were issued misdemeanor summons, police spokesman Bill Goodin said.
Caddo Parish Attorney Charles Grubb said adopting a parishwide ordinance similar to that of Shreveport police’s is a possibility. Prator said he has not known the pajama pants issue to be a problem in the parish.
Williams plans to poll his fellow commissioners in February, which he hopes will lead to introducing an ordinance.
SHREVEPORT, La. — Caddo Parish District 3 Commissioner Michael Williams doesn’t care to see people in their PJs, at least not at a shopping center, restaurant or anywhere else in public.
Williams said after seeing a group of young men at a local Walmart wearing pajama pants that revealed one young man’s private parts, he decided to push for an ordinance that would prohibit wearing pajama pants in public.
“Pajamas are designed to be worn in the bedroom at night,” Williams said. “If you can’t (wear pajamas) at the Boardwalk or courthouse, why are you going to do it in a restaurant or in public? Today it’s pajamas,” Williams said. “Tomorrow it’s underwear. Where does it stop?”
Khiry Tisdem, of Shreveport, has no problem going out in his “Family Guy” Stewie pajama pants.
“I wear my (pajama) pants anywhere,” Tisdem said. “I’m an American, and I can wear my clothes anywhere I want. I’m a grown man. I pay my own bills, so I can wear my clothes the way I want. I don’t know why it’s an issue.”
Tracy Carter, also of Shreveport, was out shopping Thursday with her 3-year-old son, Aaron — she in her Valentine’s Day fuzzy pajama pants and Aaron in dinosaur pajamas.
“We all wear our pajamas out,” Carter said. “I can get out of the bed and go to the store, and they’re covering everything. I’ve got a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 12-year-old to deal with.”
One problem with a possible ordinance is what constitutes pajamas. Williams said it could be defined as a garment sold in the sleepwear section of department stores, and violators should not go to jail but perform community service.
“It’s going to be very difficult to enforce the way it’s described, although I’ve not seen anything in writing,” Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator said.
The city of Shreveport has a no-sagging law. In 2011, Shreveport police reported 31 incidents involving “wearing of pants below the waist in public.” Most of those were unattached to other more serious crimes, and the offenders were issued misdemeanor summons, police spokesman Bill Goodin said.
Caddo Parish Attorney Charles Grubb said adopting a parishwide ordinance similar to that of Shreveport police’s is a possibility. Prator said he has not known the pajama pants issue to be a problem in the parish.
Williams plans to poll his fellow commissioners in February, which he hopes will lead to introducing an ordinance.