Crack Down On Teen Tattoo Parties
Published : September 28, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Illegal tattoo parties have been raided in the city’s Frankford section, part of a growing trend in the Delaware Valley.

Investigators say the parties could pose a potential health risk and they’re being advertised on the Internet, reported Fox 29′s Dave Schratwieser.

Police, health inspectors and investigators from Licenses and Inspection have broken up four unlicensed tattoo parties in the past month, including three this weekend. Making matters worse, the customers who are getting inked are underage.

“16-years-old, 17-years-old, sometimes even younger than that, 14-years-old,” says Kevin Daly, chief of L&I’s Nuisance Task Force.

In Pennsylvania, the law states that you must be 18 or older to get a tattoo. Otherwise, you have to have written permission from a parent or guardian who must be present.

On Saturday, police shut down a seafood and soul food restaurant in Frankford after they found ads for a tattoo party online. That came after they found posters advertising free tattoo parties posted all over the city.

“The one we did Saturday night was craigslist, the one we did on Parkside Avenue at the beginning of the month, they had put posters that were scattered all over the city,” says Daly. “Fairmount Park, throughout the city. ‘Free tattoos, tattooing available, tattoo parties.’ There’s no sanitary conditions or a controlled environment.”

None of the four places that were shut down were licensed.

Police say they will continue to respond to complaints.

Source : My Fox Philly