Wildwood’s Saggy Pants Law Takes Effect Today

Wildwood's new saggy pants law goes into effect today.

The rule prohibits anyone on the Wildwood boardwalk from wearing shorts, swimsuits, pants or skirts more than 3 inches below the waist.

"If your pants are down below your waist at a level that's unacceptable, then the police department will come over and kindly ask for you to pick your pants up," Mayor of Wildwood Ernie Troiano tells WMGM TV.

The measure also requires people to wear foot protection at all times and shirts between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m..

Seventeen-year-old Raphael Caetano, who moved to the U.S. from Brazil, tells The Press of Atlantic City he was a little surprised by the ordinance. He says in America, you do whatever you want.

But Kristina Dunleavy of Westchester, N.Y., says the ordinance is fantastic because she doesn't believe low-hanging pants are appropriate.

Fines start at $25 and could be as high as $200. Troiano says violators will be given an opportunity to comply with the law before a ticket is issued. "If you chose not to do that, you will be asked to leave the boardwalk, depending on your attitude, depending on how far you want to take it, you can actually be issued a ticket," says Troiano.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.