For tattoo Removal
L.A.
Ure moves no-tattoos-for-kids bill onward
Waste of time: Shop owner says cops don't try to bust parlors under the current
law; bill lifts penalty to class B misdemeanor
By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Rep. David Ure
Barbed wire around the biceps. A little butterfly just above the waistline. A
ring through the eyebrow. State Rep. David Ure hates them all. "I think tattoos
are ugly," said the Republican dairy farmer from Kamas, who complains about the
"epidemic" of body art. "I consider it defiling" the body. While he can't
do much about the decisions of adults, he can target the tattooing and piercing
of minors.
A House committee unanimously
approved Ure's bill Tuesday that increases the criminal penalty for tattoo
artists who lay ink to skin without the approval of the child's parents.
Under current law, underaged tattooing is a class C misdemeanor punishable by
three months in jail and a $750 fine.
Ure wants to bump it to a class B
misdemeanor, which would increase the penalty to six months in jail and a $1,000
fine.
His goal is to encourage police officers to investigate and bust rogue tattoo
artists.
Joseph "Doc" Hanussak, who runs the Doc Holliday tattoo parlor in Salt Lake
City, doesn't mind Ure's bill. But he thinks it's a waste of time because police
have made no efforts under the current law.
Hanussak insists his parlor follows Utah's current underaged tattooing statute.
He requires notarized consent forms from parents and legal guardians.
"Unless parents come with the minor, it won't happen, either," he said.
Even with the restrictions, Hanussak said his shop tattoos a few minors every
week.
Micah Parker, owner of Micah's Twisted Tattoo Co. in Layton, thought the
punishment was already a class B misdemeanor. She said Ure's bill would have
limited impact, if any.
"It really wouldn't have anything to do with professional studios," she said.
Still, Ure believes "a good share of tattoo parlors" violate the law.
Ure first thought of increasing the penalty about three months ago as he walked
the halls of Kamas High School, where his wife works. He saw boys and girls with
snakes, dragons, butterflies and tribal bands tattooed on arms, legs and
elsewhere.
He is certain they received their ink illegally. "I know their parents," he
said.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3435124?source=rss
