State bill could ban tanning for certain age groups

Posted at: 06/14/2012 10:29 PM | Updated at: 06/15/2012 2:29 AM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

The rules for indoor tanning beds could be changing in New York State. If a new bill passes, tanning beds will be completely off limits to anybody under the age of 17.

Currently, teenagers ages 14 to 17 can tan with their parents' permission. Under the new bill, 17-year-olds would still be able to tan with parental permission, but for anyone 16 or younger, it would be against the law. 

 

The American Cancer Society calls it a huge win. Tanning salon owners say that all it’s doing is driving business away.

The ban on teen tanning started picking up steam after a New Jersey woman's story ended up on The Today Show, and other national news outlets.

She's accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter to a tanning booth. She denies it.

The American Cancer Society has been pushing for the new tanning rules in Albany. Regional Vice President Matt Flanigan was on Roc City Tonight Thursday and spoke about how important it is to keep kids out of tanning beds.

“Right now anyone using a tanning bed under 30 increases their chance of getting melanoma by 75%.”
    
The World Health Associate and International Agency on Cancer say the UV rays in tanning booths are just as dangerous as tobacco and asbestos when it comes to causing cancer.

News10NBC’s Amanda Ciavarri asks, “Critics of the bill ask are tanning beds really that much different that laying on the beach under the sun?”

Matt Flanigan replies, “A little surprise for folks might be when you are in the tanning bed that UV radiation is more than four times the power of standing out in the sun at noon around here.”

News10NBC caught up with one tanner outside a salon on Park Avenue who says he agrees with the new policy.

John Dailey of Rochester says, “I think it is a good thing, having the bill and not allowing minors to be influenced by looks and tanning I think that is something once you become and adult they can take that responsibility.”

Some tanning salon owners are not so pleased to hear the news.

David Triassi, owner of Totally Beachin Tan is one of those owners. "I just think New York State is adding a lot of laws that ya know applies to some people and doesn't to others and might for some people to go out of the state as time goes on,” Triassi says.

He goes on to say, “That just means there are more customers that won’t be able to use our services anymore. It will prevent people from using the service they would have used in the past.”

The state Senate and Assembly have agreed to pass the bill by end of next week, and Governor Cuomo is expected to sign off on it. 

New York is one of 12 states in the country with some kind of indoor tanning ban. Only two states- California and Vermont- have outlawed tanning altogether for anyone under 18.

If passed, the state health department would be in charge of enforcing the new rules. If a tanning salon is found in violation, the owner could be fined and could lose their business license.

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