2 Arrested After Minor Gets Tattoo At Party In Chautauqua County

Two people in Chautauqua County were arrested after a minor received a tattoo at a house party. The youth who got tattooed is under the age of 18.

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I am a fan of tattoos. Well, actually, I'm a fan of art and I see tats as another art form. I have 11 myself. When my mother passed away I got the title of one of her favorite songs tatted on my arm, where I see it daily, as a reminder and tribute to her. Tats have so many important meanings to the people who get them and I love that. I understand the allure of tattoos to young people. But regardless of how much they might appreciate art, there are laws in New York State about the age a person can get a tat.

How Old Does A Person Have To Be To Get A Tattoo In New York State?

New York State law is pretty clear about who can get a tattoo, legally. According to the New York Department of Health, tattooing a minor is illegal,

It is violation of Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law to tattoo minors under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. Contact local law enforcement for more information.

So, even if the minor's parents were at the house party and consented, it's still again the law. Plus, I can't imagine that getting a tattoo at a house party actually follows hygiene regulations for tattoos.

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Minor Gets Tattoo At Chautauqua County House Party, 2 Arrested

According to WKBK, two men were arrested for tattooing the minor at a house party in the Town of Westfield in Chautauqua County. Two men, 36-year-old Justin Gilbert and 34-year-old Richard Latanzi were arrested on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Both men are facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful dealing with a child in the second degree. Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law - Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the Second Degree, states,

Unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree. A person is guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree when he marks the body of a child less than eighteen years old with indelible ink or pigments by means of tattooing.

Gilbert and Latanzi were issued tickets and are due back in court in the Town of Westfield court at a later date.