Friday, March 28, 2008

Anatomy of the Tattoo Parlor Ordinance

The Westbrook City Council gave preliminary approval to a new ordinance regulating tattoo parlors Monday night. Here are the particulars:
  • Acquirement and maintenance of a $100 license from the city.
  • Applicant must not commit the following crimes within 10 years of obtaining a tattoo license: Assault, drug offense, sex offense, terrorizing and criminal threatening, or other crimes of moral turpitude.
  • Applicant must be current on all property taxes, registration fees, sewer fees, and other charges associated with with the business.

City Councilor Michael Foley proposed an amendment to strike the phrase 'crimes of moral turpitude' from the ordinance, and City Councilor Suzanne Joyce proposed an amendment that would've removed the section requiring the applicant to be current with the financial fees associated with running the business from the ordinance. The amendments were combined, but were rejected with a 3-3 vote (Dotty Aube, Foley, Joyce in favor; Drew Gattine, John O'Hara, Brendan Rielly opposed).

And City Councilor John O'Hara's amendment to prohibit minors under the age of 18 from entering the parlor without an accompanying adult failed by a 4-2 vote (O'Hara, Rielly in favor; Aube, Foley, Gattine, and Joyce opposed).

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. Hat tip to Leslie Bridgers of the American Journal.

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