When a wave of HIV and Hepatitis cases washed across the United States, there was a race to find the cause. It soon became apparent that the culprit was in part, tattoos and body piercings done with unsanitary tools. This was especially disturbing because of the growing popularity of tattoos amongst teenagers. Laws were passed that made it illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18 without a legal guardian present. Today though, there is a large amount of 17, 16, and even 15 year olds that have tattoos. I wondered if this law was being followed. What I saw, and the results I received were shocking.

I went with HarlemLIVE system's manager Brad and his girlfriend (who wants to remain anonymous) to a tattoo parlor on Bleeker Street. Brad is 18, his girlfriend is 16. We entered the parlor and had a conversation with the receptionist about costs. When we assured her that we would pay with credit card, she readily set us up with the people we came to see. She never asked about age, despite the fact that Brad's girlfriend paid with a Summer Youth Employment Card. That should have been a clear indicator that something was wrong. Yet all she asked was that they filled out a waiver stating that the parlor would not be held responsible. The birth date scribbled on the bottom of the form was never looked at.

Brad opted for a tongue piercing. A rather scruffy looking man took him downstairs and in 5 minutes, he had a ring in his mouth. He was told not to eat solid foods, and he laughed as we loudly commented that his mother was going to kill him. Upstairs, Brad's girlfriend and I decided on where she would get the tattoo. She chose her back, but not in the ever popular 'muffin top' area. After all, she definitely did not want her mother seeing her tattoo because of a pair of extra low rise jeans.

A large man stepped forward to put on the tattoo. While Brad and I supported her, Brad's girlfriend lifted her shirt and had her tattoo applied. She screamed and cursed, but the applier "Timmy" said that was normal. With a few instructions about care, we walked out of the tattoo parlor in under 20 minutes. It was an experience that was both instructional and disappointing. Not once did we have to try and convince anyone that we were adults. The thrill of fooling the adults disappeared, leaving behind the sense that we had won a fight without ever having a willing opponent.

With all of the dangers that are associated with getting tattoos, it should not be so easy to get one. Those waiver forms that were signed will not stand up in a court of law. Neither will the declaration that "they looked older". The health concerns that come with piercing and tattooing the body are serious. Teenagers tend not to truly believe that, and unfortunately teens are the demographic that is more susceptible to catching diseases. That is why laws were passed preventing underage tattoos without a legal guardian present and heavy fines put in place to deter this practice. It is also why some tattoo parlors take it a step further by not allowing anyone that is underage to get a tattoo, even if their parents are present. When are places in the city going to start taking these dangers seriously? Hopefully it won't be after numerous teenagers get hurt. Because it is a tragedy that can definitely be prevented.