Yesterday afternoon the hardsurfing staff came across this on Mediaite:

Bizarre PSA To Massachusetts Youth: ‘Pull Up Your Pants’… Or You Could Go To Prison

The Black Mental Health Alliance of Massachusettshas a message for kids who like to wear their pants “hip hop style”: “Pull up your pants. Respect yourself.” Or you could spend up to 3 years in state prison.

In a bizarre new PSA from the Massachusetts advocacy group, a police officer says into the camera, ““So you think you look pretty good wearing your pants like that, don’t you? Underwear exposed, hip hop style.”

He proceeds to explain that in Massachusetts, wearing saggy pants could get you up a $300 fine, 3 years in state prison or 2 years in a county jail.

Saggy pants video:

Here’s what the Black Mental Health Alliance of Massachusetts has to say about the spot:

Black Mental Health Group releases anti-saggy pants video

Video Targeted to urban youth in metro Boston Area

January 24, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts – The Black Mental Health Alliance of Massachusetts (BMHAM) a Boston based mental health advocacy organization released an Anti-Saggy Pants video today, which is running on major television outlets in the Boston market. The video targeted to young urban dwellers in Massachusetts is the brainchild of Dr. Omar Reid, President and Founder of BMHAM says the the video’s purpose is to address the growing issue of young men walking in the streets of our communities without regard and respect for themselves and thier community. “For the BMHAM it’s a behavioral health issue in our neighborhoods and communities that must be addressed the entire community.” says Dr. Reid.

For starters, the hardwondering staff would like to know which “major television outlets in the Boston market” are running this spot.

Beyond that, the hardwatching staff notes that Massachusetts has not introduced saggy pants legislation along the lines of cities in Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Tennessee (tip o’ the pixel to hypervocal).

No, this spot totally relies on a couple of obscure Massachusetts laws for its warning:

The fine print:

CHAPTER 272 Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order

SECTION 16 Open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior

Someone will be convicted of those offenses the same day the hardworking staff is inaugurated Governor of the Commonwealth.

Which is to say, never.