County Commissioners will decide on new tattoo ordinance this month

A new tattoo ordinance is long overdue for Dubois County according to Health Department Executive Director Donna Oeding and Environmental Specialist Shawn Werner. Popular television shows like “Miami Ink” and “Ink Master” have increased the demand for tattoos and influenced the upswing in home-based tattoo businesses, so-called “scratchers”. According to Werner the potential for unsafe practices has increased as well and the county needs a regulatory ordinance to ensure safe practices.

Currently Dubois County has two brick and mortar tattoo businesses; Voodoo Dolls in Jasper and Last Chance Tattoo in Birdseye. The owners, Chris Taylor and William Hawes, were both on hand Monday for the County Commissioners meeting where the proposed ordinance was discussed.

Taylor has been a tattoo artist for over 20 years and has seen an increase in people coming to his shop unhappy with a tattoo done by what he considers an unqualified home tattoo artist. He stated these people are even paying more money than he would have charged for the work done. “It takes a lot of hard work as an apprentice to become a tattoo artist,” Taylor said.

He made several recommendations to the commissioners to strengthen certain aspects and add clarity to statements within the regulation.

The proposed ordinance establishes cleanliness standards as well as minimum training requirements. It also introduces an annual licensing requirement for tattoo artists and/or body piercers. Besides an undetermined fee for the license, violators of the proposed ordinance could face a $2500 fine for each violation.

Taylor suggested cosmetic tattoos or permanent makeup artists be added to the ordinance. He told the commissioners and health department these types of businesses use the same practices tattoo artists do, piercing the skin and injecting ink into the tissue. He also wants to add a daily license in the event a tattoo convention was to be held in Dubois County. Taylor stated he has extensive contacts within the industry and would like to hold a convention in Jasper in the next couple of years.

Taylor also proposed stricter regulations on sterilization techniques. He prefers the use of an autoclave over prepackaged sterilized equipment, but William Hawes of Last Chance Tattoo who operates his business using prepackaged sterilized tools equipment, disagreed.

The implements are disposable and have expirations dates printed on the packaging. Taylor is concerned tools won’t be used until after their expiration dates, but Hawes stated the purchase of an autoclave was expensive and wouldn’t change his practice. “If I have to buy an autoclave, frankly it is going to sit on a shelf and collect dust,” he told the group.

Taylor also recommended stricter measures against unlicensed home tattoo shops, such as confiscation of equipment. County Attorney Art Nordhoff advised Taylor the confiscation of equipment can only be order by a court and not something the commission could declare or enforce.

Virlee Ziegler-Elkins works out of Illusions Nail, Hair, Massage Studio and Day Spa in Jasper applying permanent makeup, or cosmetic tattoos. She’s been there for most of her career working two or three days a week. Before she started her practice in Dubois County she investigated the regulations and licensing required and then nothing was required. Ziegler-Elkins stated she is interested in seeing the potential impact the ordinance could have on her business but she supports the regulations to keep customers safe.

Oeding and Werner will be finishing up the the ordinance to present it to the Commissioners at the June 18 meeting.

Prior to leaving the meeting Taylor offered to provide the county with names of individuals he personally knew were working from their homes.

Here are some local responses to the proposed ordinance.

http://storify.com/editordcfreep/comments-from-facebook-on-the-proposed-tattoo-ordi