CITY HALL — Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to limit teen tongue piercings and ban minors entirely from tanning salons.
There's a tradeoff in Emanuel's proposal, set to be considered by the City Council's Health Committee on Thursday. The legal age for tattoos would drop from 21 to 18.
But those under 18 would need parental permission for tongue studs, and "any piercing in the oral cavity" and would be banned entirely from tanning salons, "regardless of whether the person has permission from a parent or guardian."
Mayoral spokeswoman Lauren Huffman said the proposal is "designed to both protect youth and bring city law into alignment with current state law."
"In addition to clarifying that minors must be protected from the harmful effects of indoor tanning," she said, "the ordinance would align city law with state law by adjusting the tattoo age and by requiring a special consent form for youth obtaining oral piercings. These measures are intended to bring clarity to local businesses and consumers alike while safeguarding the health of Chicago’s children."
The new law also would codify what tattoo parlors already have been doing. Many said when Emanuel's measure was introduced in December that they didn't know the legal age for inking in Chicago was 21.
According to the Emanuel administration, the city's Department of Public Health Board would set fines for violations at tattooing, tanning and body art facilities.
Some fines would range from $250 to $500, but violations involving minors would range from $2,000 to $10,000.
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