State May Impose $500 Fine for Wearing a Hoodie in Public

by Rachel Alexander | January 3, 2015 2:10 pm

[1]It is already illegal in Oklahoma to wear a hood during a crime; a law dating back to the 1920s banned them when the Klu Klux Klan was a big threat. Now, state legislators want to ban hoodies completely from public areas. Anyone caught wearing a hoodie will be fined a whopping $500.[2]

According to KFOR 4,

Senator Don Barrington authored the proposed amendment; he says they want to help victims of robberies.

“The intent of Senate Bill 13 is to make businesses and public places safer by ensuring that people cannot conceal their identities for the purpose of crime or harassment….Similar language has been in Oklahoma statutes for decades and numerous other states have similar laws in place.  Oklahoma businesses want state leaders to be responsive to their safety concerns, and this is one way we can provide protection.” – said Sen. Don Barrington of Lawton.

Not everyone is happy, including guys with bald heads who just want to stay warm outside during winter. Additionally, the proposed law has put civil liberties advocates at odds with law and order proponents, reviving the long-running debate over whether the “Broken Windows” method of policing is effective and worth the risk of trampling on constitutional rights. No doubt if the legislation passes, there will be lawsuits filed.

Watch the report from KFOR 4 below: