Members of the public with pants sagging more than three inches below their waist will be subject to a $250 fine or community service or both if a proposed anti-slabbing ordinance is adopted next month by the Turkey Creek Village Council.
The ordinance was proposed at the meeting held Tuesday, December 22.
Village Administrator Adam Janet reported he tailored the ordinance after the one on the books in Ville Platte.
“It basically sets some guidelines,” he said. “It’s open ended regarding appropriate dress for persons in certain public places but also recognizes the need for pants to be around the waist.”
The ordinance is set for a public hearing on Tuesday, January 19, at 6:20 p.m. and will be voted on by the council during the meeting that night.
Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, Janet reported on the Pine Prairie homecoming event which was held at the park in Turkey Creek.
“Everybody I talked to was very appreciative of it being there and said they actually liked it better there than in a hot gymnasium,” Janet said. “I enjoyed seeing it used and seeing people enjoy it because that’s what it’s there for.”
The council then discussed building a set of portable steps to be placed at the center of the stage.
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A concerned resident living outside the corporate limits of Turkey Creek on W. Pine Street addressed the village council because she feels she is being harassed by the police officers.
“The Turkey Creek cops are passing and patrolling like they are looking for somebody at all hours of the day and night in front of my house,” she said. “Everybody who leaves my house gets pulled over by the law.”
Chief of Police Shawn Eckhart said he directed his officers to make extra patrols in the area on Pine Street that is inside their jurisdiction because of an uptick in gasoline thefts on Hwy 167.
“Instead of just turning around and driving all the way back around,” the chief said, “it is real easy for them to continue” down Pine Street.”
The back and forth continued between the resident and the chief for several minutes.
The chief said it is up to the council and the mayor whether or not his officers can continue down Pine Street in the unincorporated areas to Hwy 167 or turn around. He went on to say he will address the situation with his officers.
Mayor Phillip Cavins apologized to the resident if any of his officers were making her feel uncomfortable.
The conversation then shifted to officers stopping the public for petty traffic offenses.
Shelly Leger, who owns Leger’s Grocery, told the council she has lost several regular customers from out of town who have gotten stopped for license plate lights, having a ball on their truck, and other similar offenses.
“These are some of our regular customers who come from up north and all around,” she said. “They were not speeding. It was petty stops. They feel like they were being harassed. We’re losing customers, and you’re losing tax dollars.”
Chief Eckhart replied, “Those petty crimes have been addressed. There will be a change in that.”