A new proposition has been announced in Washington, D.C. that could potentially affect the body art industry nationwide. It’s been called the “Think Before You Ink” Law, and many believe that it will stop the late night, spur-of-the-moment permanence of tattoos and piercings.
Washington, D.C.’s Department of Health has proposed a 24-hour waiting period for anyone considering a new tattoo or piercing. According to ABC News, the public has 30 days to comment on the proposal before it could potentially become a final regulation.
According to draft regulations, all D.C. body art businesses would have to ensure that “no tattoo artist applies any tattoo to a customer until after 24 hours have passed since the customer first requested the tattoo.” These regulations would not only apply to tattoos but piercings as well.
Many University of Tampa students have some type of body art, ranging from cartilage piercings to full-sleeve tattoos. Some of these students feel that this proposal is a step in the right direction, and agree that it would be a good idea to bring these regulations to Tampa.
Junior and allied health major Briana Murphy got her first tattoo as a freshman.
“I got my tattoo because it’s symbolic of my sisters and my family heritage,” Murphy said. “I think this is a smart idea. People should be absolutely sure if they want to get a tattoo because it’s something that’s going to stay with you for the rest of your life.”
Local tattoo artist and owner of Cherry Bomb Tattoos and Piercing, Mason Chimato, provided insight to the potential effects this law would have on tattoo businesses everywhere.
“I feel if the bill in motion were to be passed, the business of tattooing would fail miserably,” Chimato said. “Eliminating the ‘walk-in’ business would leave only the world’s best tattoo artists in business; in turn destroying the future and diversity of tattooing.”
According to ABC News, licensed therapist and parenting expert Tammy Gold explained that this new bill could help parents talk their young teens out of rash decisions.
“This wait and hold time will do such wonders for [children’s] ability to protect themselves if they’re not sure they if want to do it, and a parent’s ability to protect them, to say, ‘Let’s register and then let’s give ourselves 24 hours to really talk about it,” Gold said.
According to Chimato, the walk-in business is a huge part of income for smaller and less known tattoo parlors.
“The majority of everyday tattoo business is from a walk-in clientele. Unless you have a strong name in the industry such as Timmy B, Jeff Ensminger, Nick Baxter or Nikko Hurtado, you would not be able to survive solely as a tattoo artist, without walk-in business,” Chimato said.
Other UT students agree with Chimato, yet understand where this bill is coming from.
Sophomore and secondary education major Dana Scherer said, “One of my tattoos was by an appointment and the other was a walk-in. I had to sign paperwork for both, so I feel like that is kind of your last opportunity to back out.”
“I just think that if a person wants to get a tattoo, they should be able to get it,” Scherer continued. “I knew what I wanted for two months before I got my second one, but then there are the people that get tattoos last minute and drunk. I feel like that’s what they’re trying to fix with the bill.”
In a survey done by the Harris Poll, one in five U.S. adults has at least one tattoo, which is up from the 16 percent and 14 percent who reported having a tattoo in 2003 and 2008, respectively. These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,016 adults surveyed online between January 16 and 23, 2012 by Harris Interactive.
“I think tattoos and piercings are a huge part of our culture,” Chimato concluded. “The times have changed, the quality of the supplies used have gone far beyond what people once knew, yet people still have the wrong idea about tattoo artists and tattoos.”
Lauren Richey can be reached at lauren.richey@theminaretonline.com