Massachusetts Tattooing Ban Revived

Monday, November 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) â€” A judge Monday reinstated Massachusetts' 38-year-old ban on tattooing until Jan. 31 to give state health officials time to draft regulations governing body art.

``This is in the public's best interest. Without it, tattoo artists would be able to open up shop with no public protection in place,'' said Roseanne Pawelec, a spokeswoman for the Public Health Department.

The ban had been lifted on Oct. 23 when Superior Court Judge Barbara Rouse said it was an unconstitutional infringement on freedom of expression. Tattoo artists immediately began plying their trade.

The Health Department wanted more time to develop regulations covering licensing, inspection, sterilization, training and consent for minors.

Massachusetts banned tattooing in 1962 after a hepatitis outbreak in New York was linked to tattoo artists on Coney Island. South Carolina and Oklahoma are the only other states where tattooing is illegal.

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On the Net:

Tattoo artists group: http://www.massink.com

State Department of Public Health: http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dph