Originally published Monday, February 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Various degrees of regulation under study for body piercing
With large flamelike earrings, an intricate nose piercing and visible tattoos, Troy Amundson is an unlikely lobbyist. A professional body piercer...
The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — With large flamelike earrings, an intricate nose piercing and visible tattoos, Troy Amundson is an unlikely lobbyist.
A professional body piercer at Apocalypse Tattoo in Seattle, Amundson has been leading a fight to have the state regulate his industry to make it more legitimate and to protect public health.
Legislators are considering several bills this session that would regulate body piercers and tattoo artists and restrict minors from getting piercings "on certain sensitive parts."
Amundson said most body piercers and tattoo artists follow strict sterilization procedures, but "unfortunately, there are people who get into this strictly for the money with little care for their clients' health."
"Some kind of legislation would help make it more professional."
The state Department of Health requires sterilization of needles and instruments used by tattoo artists, but there are no similar rules for body piercing. Amundson supports a pair of bills that would establish those requirements for body piercers.
But some argue such measures give only an appearance of regulation.
Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov
Rep. Sherry Appleton's bills: HB 1383 and HB 1700
Sen. Jim Kastama's bill: SB 5180
Sen. Ed Murray's bill: SB 5860
Sen. Pam Roach's bill: SB 5820.
The National Hepatitis C Institute: http://www.nationalhepatitiscinstitute.org/
Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, has sponsored a much stricter bill that would require piercers and tattoo artists to register with the Department of Licensing. The department would work with the Health Department to develop rules and then would have the authority to investigate complaints and publish information about violations.
"I think most people in Washington state would be shocked if they knew there were no state regulations or licensing requirements for the commercial body-piercing industry," Kastama said.
The bill would create an office in the Department of Licensing, which would cost around $2 million. Kastama said all of that would be paid for by permits issued to tattoo artists and body piercers.
Kitty Candelaria, executive director of the National Hepatitis C Institute based in Manchester, Kitsap County, said that without enforcement, sterilization standards don't mean anything. She said hepatitis C is often transmitted through tattoos and piercing.
"For too long, an industry that has left its mark on so many has been allowed to operate with so little government oversight," Candelaria said.
But Amundson and other piercers oppose Kastama's measure, saying it would require them to report sensitive information about their clients to a state agency and make medical diagnoses — possibly opening them up to charges of practicing medicine without a license.
"I'm one who personally supports some sort of licensing and registration program," Amundson said. "But we need to be cautious how we go about it."
He supports identical bills sponsored by Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, and Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, that call for the Department of Health to develop rules based on precautions recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body piercers who violated such rules would be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Last session, the House passed Appleton's bill and the Senate passed Kastama's bill, but neither reached Gov. Christine Gregoire's desk.
"I think the red herring in this entire debate is that I just want enforcement," Kastama said.
Appleton said her bill does have enforcement measures and that she hoped, with Murray sponsoring her version of the bill in the Senate, it has a change to become law this year.
"Everybody understands the regulation needs to be there," Appleton said.
The House Committee on Health Care and Wellness has passed Appleton's bill; the Senate version hasn't had a hearing yet.
The Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee held a hearing on Kastama's bill but hasn't acted on it.
There are also proposals to ban piercing for minors.
One measure, also sponsored by Appleton, would ban body piercing "below the neck on certain sensitive parts of the body" on minors. Appleton said she doesn't expect that bill to advance this session.
Another measure, sponsored by Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, would ban body piercing on minors unless a parent or legal guardian provided consent in writing. It wouldn't apply to piercing of an earlobe.
Roach has introduced the bill in past sessions, but it has never gained enough momentum to reach the governor's desk.
Roach said piercings in sensitive areas can be dangerous.
"It's dark, damp and wet places where infections occur," she said, adding that parents should be concerned about piercings of the mouth, nose and genitalia.
Roach said the measure would help protect minors and it "gives parents some footing to say 'why don't you wait?' "
At Metro Piercing in Olympia, 18-year-olds Chyrl Clark and Kristin Dunbar, both of Yelm, said they thought 18 was a reasonable age limit for genitalia piercings.
"When you're little, you'd do crazy things and not even think about it," said Clark, while waiting to have her nipples pierced.
Dunbar, who said she has 12 piercings, including her tongue, said she has never gotten an infection.
"I'm young now and I want to do things while I want to before it's too late," she said.
"You can always take a piercing out."
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
Rep. Brian Baird decides he won't seek re-election
Toys for Tots will put neediest children first
Gregoire disowns budget plan; favors raising taxes
Jerry Large: Believing in a holistic approach
Seattle gets first peek at Nissan electric car

Reality TV star James Sun
Eastside resident James Sun talks about being a finalist on "The Apprentice" and his new show "Sun Tzu War on Business."
nwautos
What's more important -- looks or practicality? It's a natural question for shoppers considering Acura's newest sport utility vehicle, the ZDX, whose ...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Is your name hurting your career?
Post a comment
- Rare tree stolen from Washington Park Arboretum
- Facing $2.6 billion shortfall, Gregoire to seek tax increase to balance budget
- Percentages say Jake Locker should return to Washington
- Elliott Bay Book Co. moving to Capitol Hill
- Spear tip 4,000 to 7,000 years old found in UW garden
- Rangers deal Mariners a blow, get Rich Harden
- United's split jet order raises questions about 777's future
- Local Papa John's swamped by pizza fundraiser
- Papa John's swamped by pizza fundraiser
- Costco brings back Coke next week, reports 1 percent boost in first-quarter profit
- Gregoire disowns budget plan; favors raising taxes
334 - Wartime US president picks up his peace prize
182 - Mariners re-sign Josh Wilson, but leave meetings without new major league additions
160 - What does the Senate health-care deal mean for regular people?
96 - Killer's sister charged in Lakewood officers case
90 - State Parks and Rec strikes back at McCain
86 - Seattle gets first peek at Nissan electric car
85 - Rare tree stolen from Washington Park Arboretum
80 - Fundraiser triggers run on pies at Papa John's
69 - Thursday morning links --- Huskies in Vegas Bowl in 2010?
65
- Elliott Bay Book Co. moving to Capitol Hill
- Percentages say Jake Locker should return to Washington
- Spear tip 4,000 to 7,000 years old found in UW garden
- Recipes: Sausage, Mozzarella and Broccoli Rabe with Shells, Chicken, Lemon and Dill with Orzo and more
- Danny Westneat | $10 an hour with 2 kids? IRS pounces
- Bellingham makes a splash with new Lightcatcher art museum
- Happy Hour: Oliver's Lounge offers free bar food — no pushing — and great people-watching
- Nancy Leson | Nancy Leson offers her favorite spots for dim sum, and we want to hear about your favorites
- Seattle gets first peek at Nissan electric car
- Health officials lifting lid on swine flu vaccine









