Selma Chief of Police William T. Riley said his department will begin issuing warnings to those individuals his officers find to be violating the city’s “sagging pants” ordinance that was approved last year.

“Over the next 30 days we are going to issue citations — rather warnings — to those we find are in violation of the ordinance,” Riley told Selma City Council members during their council’s meeting Tuesday. “We want to take the next few weeks and work to educate people on what they should be doing and then, once the 30 days or so is over, then we will begin to issue citations.”

Although the city passed the ordinance last year and the department has waited until now to begin enforcing the ordinance, one council member believes she has already seen a difference in the youth.

“I think it was important that it was published and a big headline on the newspaper,” Ward 7 council member Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said. “I’ve already seen a difference with some of the youth in the area. They know about the ordinance and they are more aware of how they’re dressed.”

Crenshaw, who is active with the youth in Selma, said parents must be involved to make sure their children are dressed appropriately.

“We are not the fashion police by any means,” Crenshaw said. “These young people need to understand they can’t expect to go into Calhoun’s, get a job and ask if they can carry out someone’s groceries with their underwear showing.”

The ordinance says pants worn by any person, regardless of age, in public should not fall more than three inches below the hips.

If a juvenile violates the law, the parent or legal guardian will be subject to a fine of a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 for each offense. The court costs will be waived, but the court may also order 10-to-20 hours of community service.

If an adult is in violation of the ordinance, that person should receive a citation and could face a minimum fine of $25 and a maximum fine of $200 for each offense. The court costs will be waived, but the court could order the person found guilty to 10-to-40 hours of community service.

The ordinance specifies that a citation for violating the sagging pants ordinance is not a criminal offense and there’s no arrest or imprisonment for violators.

The council approved the so-called “sagging pants” ordinance during their Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 meeting by a vote of 5-2.

During the debate, Ward 5 councilmember Samuel Randolph was the most vocal against passing the ordinance.

“I think the ordinance is close to racial profiling, geared toward minority kids,” he said.