Tennessee- [www.nashvillescene.com]- The Fashion & Decency Police are out in force. A House subcommittee voted last week to make it a misdemeanor to wear saggy pants. Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, wants to slap a $250 fine on anyone caught showing their underwear or ass in public. Plumbers are said to be preparing litigation.

“This bill has been coined the anti-crack bill,” says Towns, seeming to enjoy his moment in the TV lights. “I think any respectable citizen would be against crack. It’s a decency bill in terms of having our young people pull their britches up.”

Rep. Karen Camper, another Memphis Democrat, was the only subcommittee member against the bill. She held up pictures of people’s butts to try to pin down Towns on what’s illegal under his legislation. Under the bill’s definition of underwear, she said, she’d break the law by wearing a low-cut dress that showed her bra. “A woman working at Hooter’s, that would be a violation,” she said. Camper also suggested Towns is singling out black kids for punishment.

“I don’t know what you’re insinuating,” Towns snapped back. “It’s not minority kids. It’s not white kids. It’s not targeting anyone.”

“There were people who didn’t want me to wear hot pants in my day,” Camper said, “but they didn’t legislate it. You’re trying to legislate fashion in my opinion.”

“No,” Towns said, “we’re legislating decency.”

At least Camper has Tennessee’s titty bars on her side. The strip clubs’ lobbyist, Tracy O’Neill, sent a letter to legislators stating her opposition. O’Neill says the bill would apply to strip clubs. She envisions police using the law to arrest strippers, and warns the courts have consistently struck down saggy pants laws.

“The fact that this bill proposes to dictate how Americans wear their clothing in public and private establishments should sound an alarm to everyone who values freedom of expression and personal autonomy,” she wrote. “It is not the government’s job to censor fashion statements and fads.”