Inflicting Ink Tattoo

Inflicting Ink Tattoo

Monday, July 26, 2010

Underground Unlicensed Tattoo Artist Charged in NH

A local newspaper article that RI tattoo artist and Inflicting Ink owner Jeff Goyette found interesting concerning unlicensed, underground illegal tattooing is posted below.

Illegal Tattoo Artist Faces New Charges

May 7th, 2009

Police File New Charges Against Illicit Tattoo Artist

By Andrew Wolfe

NASHUA, NH – Police have brought additional charges against a woman accused of tattooing minors in an unlicensed, underground tattoo parlor in her apartment, detectives reported Wednesday.

Ronalda Brunner-Cummings, 45, of 1 Burns Hill Road, building 3, apt. 37, Hudson, has been jailed since her arrest late last month, unable to post $1,000 bail, Detective Lt. Jeff Bukunt said this morning.

Police charge she had been running an illicit tattoo parlor out of her former apartment at 25 Tolles St., using equipment she bought online, and offering low quality, cut-rate tattoos, at about $30 to 40 each.

Police searched her Hudson home and seized her tattooing equipment on April 29, and on Tuesday, Brunner-Cummings was arrested and arraigned in Nashua District Court on several more misdemeanor charges, Bukunt said.

In addition to endangering the welfare of two 15-year-olds, Brunner-Cummings is also charged with tattooing without a license, and tattooing minors, both also misdemeanors, Bukunt said.

Tattoo shops are highly regulated by state law (RSA 314-A), and it is illegal to operate one without a license in New Hampshire, and illegal to tattoo persons younger than 18.

“Even if parents said it was okay for their kids to get a tattoo, it’s illegal,” Bukunt said.

“Although the tattoos were of poor quality the bigger concern were the health risks,” Bukunt said. “Any time you’re dealing with needles, there’s obviously a risk (of infectious disease).”

Licensed tattoo shops are required to know and abide by safety regulations, including using disposable ink containers, tubes and needles. Brunner-Cummings has never been licensed, nor applied for a tattoo license, in New Hampshire, Bukunt said, and police have been unable to verify what sort of health protocols she followed, if any, he said.

Police have identified four teens tattooed by Brunner-Cummings, but two of the families declined to cooperate in prosecuting charges against her, Bukunt said.

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Inflicting Ink is a Rhode Island Tattoo Studio that embodies quality, consistency and pride, and offers a sterile, safe, comfortable, artistic environment to its customers.  Nominated multiple times for the Best Tattoo Parlor in Rhode Island and Best Tattoo Artist in RI.

You may contact them for an appointment for a tattoo at (401) 683-5680 and of course walk-ins are always welcome.

For more information, please visit our home page at www.inflictinginktattoo.com.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Sterile Tattoo Environments and RI Tattoo Law

Jeff Goyette, the owner of Inflicting Ink Tattoo Studio in Portsmouth RI, and also the creator, builder and owner of the Inflicting Ink Traveling Tattoo truck, has been involved in the tattoo industry for almost all of his adult life, making him a veritable expert in this field.

In the State of Rhode Island, the last time the tattooing laws were rewritten was in 1997. Due to Jeff’s extensive knowledge in the areas of blood-born pathogens, sterile procedures, cross contamination, barrier coding, and the tattoo industry, he was asked by the State to consult with them regarding rewriting the bylaws and what needed to be contained in order to keep the public safe.

After several months of consulting with Vincent Bacari, who was in charge of the Medical Tattooing Department of the Department of Health, the new laws went into effect.

Although the laws were altered to provide a somewhat more sterile approach to tattooing, many of Jeff’s suggestions were labeled an ‘unnecessary precaution’ and were not adopted. Jeff feels that there is still too much of a gap in the procedures that the State notes as acceptable and what he considers the ultimate protective environment in which to tattoo. And though the standards are improving, he is adamant that the procedures and environment at Inflicting Ink Tattoo Studio and Traveling Tattoo remain well above the State recommendations in the areas of sterilization, environment, and sterile practices.

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Inflicting Ink is a Rhode Island Tattoo Studio that embodies quality, consistency and pride, and offers a sterile, safe, comfortable, artistic environment to its customers.  Nominated multiple times for the Best Tattoo Parlor in Rhode Island and Best Tattoo Artist in RI.

You may contact them for an appointment for a tattoo at (401) 683-5680 and of course walk-ins are always welcome.

For more information, please visit our home page at www.inflictinginktattoo.com.