New Law A Day: Tennessee Wants Proof For Tattoos & Piercings

If tattoo artists and the folks who work at piercing stores follow this new law, parents will be carded before their children can receive a tattoo or piercing.

Under the old law, it was a Class C misdemeanor for a person to tattoo someone under the age of 18. However, a tattoo artist could tattoo a minor who is at least 16 years old in order to cover up an existing tattoo, if the minor's parent or guardian consents to and is present at the procedure. A separate provision of law made it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to tattoo a minor for commercial purposes.

The new law revises the criminal penalty for tattooing a minor from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor, so the penalties are consistent regardless of whether the tattooing was for commercial purposes. Also, in regard to the exception for minors age 16 and up to cover an existing tattoo, this bill requires the person accompanying the minor to present proof of guardianship or custody of the minor.

As for piercings, under the old law, a person could perform a body piercing procedure on an individual who is under 18 years of age, if the individual's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian consents to and is present at the procedure. The person must also produce proof of age; sign a statement that the individual is the minor's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian; and sign a statement stating that the individual consents to the procedure being performed on the minor and that the individual providing consent is in fact the parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of the minor. The document must include the declaration that falsifying legal standing as a parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian is a Class C misdemeanor. The new law contains those same provisions but adds that the parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of a minor to be pierced also provide proof of guardianship or custody of the minor.