Tattoo (Minor) by Friend

[muddyjeep70]

My son is 17 years old, living in NC. I know he has to be 18 to get a tattoo unless he has written consent from a guardian,which I certainly didn't give. He went to a friends house and got a permanent tattoo and I want to know if I am able to take legal action against this individual? I do not know if he is a minor, but if so I'd like to know if I could file against the parents. Thank you

 

[quincy]

My son is 17 years old, living in NC. I know he has to be 18 to get a tattoo unless he has written consent from a guardian,which I certainly didn't give. He went to a friends house and got a permanent tattoo and I want to know if I am able to take legal action against this individual? I do not know if he is a minor, but if so I'd like to know if I could file against the parents. Thank you

You can report the tattoo artist to the police. Tattooing a minor without the consent of the parent/guardian is a crime.

Here are links to the laws (2014, 2011):

NC Gen Stat 130A-283: http://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2014/chapter-130a/article-8/section-130a-283

NC Gen Stat 14-400: http://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2011/chapter14/article52/section14-400

Do you know if your son lied about his age?

 

[Ohiogal]

You can report the tattoo artist to the police. Tattooing a minor without the consent of the parent/guardian is a crime.

Here are links to the laws (2014, 2011):

NC Gen Stat 130A-283: http://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2014/chapter-130a/article-8/section-130a-283

NC Gen Stat 14-400: http://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2011/chapter14/article52/section14-400

Do you know if your son lied about his age?

Do you know if your son tattooed himself? Or tattooed his buddy? You might want to look into the entirety of the situation before you jump to conclusions.

 

[quincy]

Do you know if your son tattooed himself? Or tattooed his buddy? You might want to look into the entirety of the situation before you jump to conclusions.

Agreed!

In addition, although tattooing a minor without parental consent is a crime and can be reported to the police as such, the tattoo is there, decorating your son's body. Your son was only a short time away from being able to get a tattoo on his own legally.

My concern would be less about the tattoo and more about the conditions under which he got the tattoo. I would want to make sure the tattooing was done safely (with clean needles).

 

[muddyjeep70]

Do you know if your son tattooed himself? Or tattooed his buddy? You might want to look into the entirety of the situation before you jump to conclusions.

My son was the one who received the tattoo from a "friend", who was unlicensed and may have been a minor himself.

 

[muddyjeep70]

Agreed!

In addition, although tattooing a minor without parental consent is a crime and can be reported to the police as such, the tattoo is there, decorating your son's body. Your son was only a short time away from being able to get a tattoo on his own legally.

My concern would be less about the tattoo and more about the conditions under which he got the tattoo. I would want to make sure the tattooing was done safely (with clean needles).

I appreciate your response and that is exactly why I am upset. I don't know if his equipment was clean, or if my son's arm will be swelling and infected. I honestly would have taken him myself to a licensed tattoo artist, as I would have at least known it was done by a professional artists. I have several tattoos and know where I like to go. I guess we will soon see.

 

[quincy]

I appreciate your response and that is exactly why I am upset. I don't know if his equipment was clean, or if my son's arm will be swelling and infected. I honestly would have taken him myself to a licensed tattoo artist, as I would have at least known it was done by a professional artists. I have several tattoos and know where I like to go. I guess we will soon see.

I think a visit with your son to a medical professional might be smart, to make sure there is no on-site infection. Your son will eventually want his blood tested, as well.

The parents of the other boy may have been as surprised as you by the tattooing. Seventeen year olds have an uncanny knack for getting into trouble despite the best of parenting.

Whatever the case, the law is there if you choose to report the illegal tattooing. Good luck.

 

[Ohiogal]

I think a visit with your son to a medical professional might be smart, to make sure there is no on-site infection. Your son will eventually want his blood tested, as well.

The parents of the other boy may have been as surprised as you by the tattooing. Seventeen year olds have an uncanny knack for getting into trouble despite the best of parenting.

Whatever the case, the law is there if you choose to report the illegal tattooing. Good luck.

And quite frankly it may not go anywhere if he did report it.

 

[quincy]

And quite frankly it may not go anywhere if he did report it.

That is a possibility.

Whether the police act beyond the investigation into illegal tattooing and charge the tattoo artist with a crime could depend on if the tattooing was a one time thing between friends or if the son's friend has tattooed others in the past, without the necessary licensing and/or without taking the proper and required sanitary precautions. If a police investigation determines the friend offers tattoo services to others on a regular basis, I think the friend can expect to be charged.

I hope no infections result.