Jefferson City Wants Tattoo Parlors to Be Like Chameleons

Jefferson City has grudgingly lifted its ban on tattoo parlors. They are now legal, but subject to several regulations: The shops can’t open before 9 a.m., and must close by 8 p.m. They can’t display any neon lights. And they can’t stand out:

The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports that another stipulation requires the businesses to aesthetically blend in with their surroundings.

That last requirement is the least reasonable. No store can look just like the establishments surrounding it while simultaneously advertising itself to customers. And the burden of this regulation will only increase over time, for if neighboring businesses come and go, a tattoo shop will have to continually redesign itself to blend in with the changing scene.

I can’t imagine what tattoo shops will look like under this ordinance. Will a tattoo parlor next to an office building have to masquerade as corporate headquarters?

The new policy doesn’t satisfy all tattoo shop critics; some would prefer that tattoo shops stayed out of Jefferson City. One council member explains why he opposed ending the ban:

“Many times these things are done randomly without much forethought and individuals do regret this,” said Pope.

I would expect people who share this opinion to call for waiting periods before anyone can get a tattoo, rather than bans. Completely banning tattoo parlors prevents people who do exercise foresight from getting tattoos — and why should they be punished for someone else’s lack of judgment? This council member should at least be happy with the new policy’s regulation of operating hours, because whoever decides to get a tattoo after 8 p.m. will have all night to reconsider.