Judge Tosses Two Tattoo Regulations

Tuesday, May 1st 2007, 4:11 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A judge tossed out state Health Department regulations Tuesday that required tattoo shops to have a $100,000 surety bond and banned them from doing business within 1,000 feet of schools, churches or playgrounds.

District Judge Dan Owens ruled that these provisions were unconstitutional.

State officials have not decided if they will appeal the ruling, which stems from a lawsuit filed in February by the Association of Body Art, a group of tattoo shop owners.

Oklahoma has granted licenses to 39 tattoo shops since tattooing became legal in the state last fall.

The state also has 121 licensed tattoo artists, according to Health Department figures.

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1/11/2007 Tattoo Artists Complain About Licensing Procedures

4/29/2007 Tattoo Artists Challenge State Regulations