A bit about Texas Laws.

[icuJoZ]

:mad:Just recently ( yesterday) I found out a bit about Texas laws....I went through all the red tape that goes along with city zoning and laws......(about 8 months ago) and started trying to get in touch with the state to get a license to open a shop (my mentor and I were going to go into business together....and be above ground)........The state licensing people here are very hard to get in touch with (especially if you have never dealt with them in the first place) I called place after place after place only to end up with a dead end number down in Austin..... wound up frustrated and threw my hands in the air, this being after weeks of trying to get in touch with ANY one who had a clue .....About 6 months ago the local tattoo guy....(there is only one (above ground) "shop" in town)...found out that I was doing a bit of ink (because I had refered someone to him as I did not want to work on anyone outside of my family until I could get a shop up and running)...and he called the health dept. on me....most of my work was being done on oranges, grapefruits, and fake skin.....but some of it was on myself...my husband and a few family members who voluteered to give me live canvas. I have invested in plastic covers for my machines and PS lines, tons of ink caps.....everything is covered evertime with disposable film (bottles, table, arm rest etc).........work area cleaned everytime with bleach........ disposible tubes and needles that go straight in the trash as soon as I am finished with them.....ceramic tile floor bleached everytime...(just clearing all this up for anyone who might read this and think that I am running some kind of CC or BBP spore fest over here...that is not the case) No money was being exchanged... and when the health dept. showed up at my house I did not lie to them I told them that I was doing ink...... but very little of it.....that every one I had worked on had been family members and no money had ever been paid for the work that I was doing. The health inspector never asked to see my work area....she just told me that they usually frown on individuals working on others besides themselves or their spouses....okay I was good with that.... she wanted to know how much gain I had made from this venture...and when I told her that I had not recieved a penny for any of it she acted like the trip she had made out was a waste of time...>She did ask me if I was eventually going to open a shop and I told her when I felt comfortable calling myself a professional....then I would open a shop....She fully left me with the impression that it was okay to continue working on family at least I knew that working on myself and my husband was okay...and since I know that my area is as clean as it is I kept working for a little bit.....well I had a building all lined up being completely refurbished by the owners but it was about two motnhs away from being finished and so I wanted to wait to try and get an inspector out to do his job....I was already okayed by the city as far as location and zoning goes..... but when it came time to get an inspector out I could NEVER get in touch with them to get an inspection done. Wound up that my mentor had some family issues he had to attend to in another state and had to move about two weeks after this inspector had come to my house.....So I wound up giving up the building and went on about my business (Tattooing myself, my husband, and the occassional out of town relative). A couple of days ago...I receive a letter from the state (mind you this is 6 months after the inspection) saying that I had better get busy sending them some money to apply for a license (within the next 20 days) or they are coming after me. So I called them yesterday and talked to them.... I found out that I was still breaking the law by tattooing any HUMAN flesh at all....mine or my husbands......and that if I was running a machine in my house on human flesh that I could wind up behind bars. FREAKED ME OUT to say the least...well I had a nice conversation with them and found out that if I want to open a business (tattooing) that the building is the only thing that has to be licensed (I already knew this, since I have read and re-read the laws that are stated on the Texas licensing webpage....but since there was a discepancy about whether or not I could work on myself or on my husband I thought that I had better ask) and that an inspector does not HAVE to come out immediately for you to get a license....that they can appove a license sight unseen and it could take up to two years for someone to ever even come around to inspect....(because their list is so long)....

I say all of this because I am a bit peeved right now......... I have know guys here in town to run a full fledged shop out of their homes for years without getting a slap on the hand and yet....I tried from the get go to get a business up and running and was straight forward with the authorities about that....and here they are gunnin for me.... And in all honesty the bottom line, once I got to it, was that it was about the money that they had not received from me yet!!!!!!!!!!!! So as far as the laws in Texas go....you can not practice on human flesh.....IT IS AGAINST THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!! PERIOD. You can however, have a building approved without an inspection...as long as you file for a license number..... and PAY YOUR MONEY......oh yeah and you have to have a tax number. Individuals do not have to be licensed, tested or proven competent in any way shape form of fashion.....(not that I am griping mind you) but that in and of itself tells me that it is all about the money to them....they could care less if you have a dirt floor run down cardboard box for a shop....as long as you pay your freakin money to get a license. By the way....any legit person who wants to get in touch with the licensing dept. here in Texas the number is..... 512-834-6626 if your get a recording asking if you know the extension number of your party...hang up and try again...until you get an operator....they will answer eventually.... and when they do ask for Rhonda Henry (She is the supervisor I guess...since she is the one my letter came from).......I told the technician who I was talking to (with his supervisor (Rhonda Henry) on the line also) that they needed to make their office easier to get in touch with....they are listed under the food and drug licensing dept...... now tell me what the hell part of tattooing has anything to do with food and drugs...????????:mad:

[undercover art]

hehehe...Texas laws are stoopid, I ran around in circles trying to get in touch with ol Rhonda as well.....they just want our money, but you gotta give it to them...freakin legal extortion...

[xxxMDKxxx@Gmail.com]

I agree man. I tattoo here in Austin TX. That's a bit fucked off. Where did you hear about breaking the law without exchanging money for the tattoo? Can you give me a link to the law sight your using? I use Tattoo Joy.

[STARMedic]

Guess Ive got it lucky, I live on 20 thousand acres thats akin to the same regulations as any other Indian Reservation in the US, for the most part. Only person that can enforce law out here is the Game Warden. The Sheriff's Dept will only enforce law here if its a felony.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is a dogshit organization who is only interested in money, They are a group of hypocrites made up of fuktards and douche nozzles who couldnt make it in the real world, and now go out of their way to interpret law despite the fact that their comprehension level is that of an autistic kindgergardener.

Something for you to chew on. Dont go out of your way to be so nice to these idiots. The "local shop" guy filed a complaint on you cause he dont want more shops in his area...Its a business tactic, kinda like when I called some friends in the DEA and ATF on the guy that owns a shop 60 miles from me and had them open up a narcotics trafficing case on his operation.

If these people didnt have a warrant they had no right to enter your premises, however if you give them consent, then that is different.

Just my .02

Bruce

[voodoo]

Bruce tell us how ya really feel....

[icuJoZ]

Where did you hear about breaking the law without exchanging money for the tattoo? Can you give me a link to the law sight your using? I use Tattoo Joy.


It was not something that I ever read....it was just something that everyone kept telling me....and as I am new to the whole insiders side of the tattoo scene......I was not sure if it was correct or not... I heard every thing from they can not prove that you have done any work at all if you do not take money.....to it is like a hair dresser ...if they do not take money they can do it without getting into trouble. ?????? Who knew....But I will tell you that the lady who came out to my house on the complaint....changed her demeanor when I said that I was not getting any money for the work that I was doing....and in so doing she left me with the impression that it was all okay.....as far as any site that I use...its the same as the one you are using .....Tattoo joy

http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_laws/united_states,texas,1.htm

Alot of reading ....but I have been through it about ten times and still can not find where it says that I can not work on people for free.....but then again....I am not a lawyer..... and these are nothing but law papers...so go figure. My A.D.D. probably kicked in about the time that it said .....human flesh is a no no whether you get paid or not PERIOD!!!!!....LOL......duh me!!!!

[SlickSquid]

Guess Ive got it lucky, I live on 20 thousand acres thats akin to the same regulations as any other Indian Reservation in the US, for the most part. Only person that can enforce law out here is the Game Warden. The Sheriff's Dept will only enforce law here if its a felony.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is a dogshit organization who is only interested in money, They are a group of hypocrites made up of fuktards and douche nozzles who couldnt make it in the real world, and now go out of their way to interpret law despite the fact that their comprehension level is that of an autistic kindgergardener.

Something for you to chew on. Dont go out of your way to be so nice to these idiots. The "local shop" guy filed a complaint on you cause he dont want more shops in his area...Its a business tactic, kinda like when I called some friends in the DEA and ATF on the guy that owns a shop 60 miles from me and had them open up a narcotics trafficing case on his operation.

If these people didnt have a warrant they had no right to enter your premises, however if you give them consent, then that is different.

Just my .02

Bruce

Damn bruh...get mad much?! hahaha

[STARMedic]

Nope, rarely ever get mad. My response is based on fact. Ive been under investigation by these fukin idiots for over a year.....Not Tattoo related. I deal with these smiling contrite conniving motherfuckers everyday.

Bruce

[L_Pease]

Its a business tactic, kinda like when I called some friends in the DEA and ATF on the guy that owns a shop 60 miles from me and had them open up a narcotics trafficing case on his operation.

Bruce

And a bad one at that. Why would you do that? Did you have first hand knowledge of drug trafficking? If not, that is a piss poor move and that is the stuff that makes us all look like squabbling idiots. This is the same mentality that got tattooing banned in NYC for 30 some odd years.



Next stop... better call all of the local competition and book them up solid with fake names...

[L_Pease]

If we want respect, we have to act respectful and take the high road.

[Pando]

If we want respect, we have to act respectful and take the high road.

absolutely....

competition is good for raising the standards... maybe if the bloke dropping the coin is worried about his competition, he should consider trying to lift his game instead..... which is what we should all do everyday!

just my thoughts...

cheers

[AncientOne]

he should consider trying to lift his game instead..... which is what we should all do everyday!

Amen brother.

It sucks when there is someone better than you stealing all your buisness...lol

It's like dog's marking there territory...

[STARMedic]

And a bad one at that. Why would you do that? Did you have first hand knowledge of drug trafficking? If not, that is a piss poor move and that is the stuff that makes us all look like squabbling idiots. This is the same mentality that got tattooing banned in NYC for 30 some odd years.



Next stop... better call all of the local competition and book them up solid with fake names...


Yes, we did have firsthand knowledge of this shop's drug involvement. If it was a legit shop I would have taken the apprenticeship they offered me months ago, but its not. Its been black balled by all the military installations in the area.

Bruce

[AncientOne]

Thats still low ball. It should have been done on legitimacy and not and narcotics... low ball.

But neither is good for the industry. Too many drugs in the culture... Too many people spreading rumers about shops aswell. Sh*ts gotta stop.

[STARMedic]

And yeah I guess I got my priorities all fucked up, lol.... Instead of stepping up my game Ive dedicated myself to the medical side of the coin, trying to unfuck OSHA's outlook on the Tattoo Industry, and work towards developing certification geared specifically for shops and artists.

Rumors? Who said anything about rumors? Anything Ive brought is based solely on fact, which is one of the reasons why I stick to the ICE forum area....

Guess I should have taken the apprenticeship they offered me awhile back.....and put all my medical credentialing on the line along with my licenses to posses and transport class 2 and 4 narcotics and paralytics....I mean nothing to lose right....

Glad to know you got me all figured out.....

Bruce

[jjbbuzz]

(and work towards developing certification geared specifically for shops and artists.)

oh yea how you getting on with this mate?:)

[lowshovel1]

The New York ban on tattooing was do to a severe outbreak of hep, not rumors or squables. This shop mentioned in TX. is a front for drug distributers and needs to be shut down.

[STARMedic]

(and work towards developing certification geared specifically for shops and artists.)

oh yea how you getting on with this mate?:)

Its a slow process, everytime I think Ive got shit licked I put it in front of someone who changes the way I want to convey information.

Youve got a PM.....Im not sure that the UK will recognize certs from over here, but final approval from my peers (ahem) is what I will be seeking when its all said and done.

Bruce

[AncientOne]

Starmedic I didn't mean you with the rumors. Just where I from every shop always says sh*t about all the other shops so they can keep their clients.

But good on ya for clearing out the dopers. I can't even believe they get return clients all shaky and sh*t. But their the ones that give out cheaper tats, that keeps people loyal to them. Like wtf does $20 put you out if you get a better tattoo? Some people are cheap and would rather get a deal than a better tat... crazy

[L_Pease]

The New York ban on tattooing was do to a severe outbreak of hep, not rumors or squables. This shop mentioned in TX. is a front for drug distributers and needs to be shut down.the New York ban was based on the he said she said complaining that the other guy was giving customers Hep. The health dept. was tired of investigating and put a ban on all of it. There was an article written just before the ban was liften on this subject and it stated there were no reported cases of anybody actually spreading hep. It was all shit talking and the higher powers got tired of it.


Starmedic, having firsthand knowledge is another thing. Going off of something somebody said is what will hurt the whole trade and further the stereotypes. That stuff used to happen here all of the time. Got everyshop under surveilance at some point in time. When I worked at my first shop job I got pulled over a couple of time a week for almost six months because of this. I have never once smoked pot or taken any illicit drugs. I'm not straight edge, but I have never been into drugs either.

[STARMedic]

Its not my goal to insult anyone here. Matter of fact I kind of look up to everyone here in that most of you are living and working in the industry. I was one like many others who were the consumate artist who's friends approached them and said, "Hey that would make an awesome tattoo". One thing leading to another and several years later here I am...

Im lucky enough to have been graced by the knowledge of the old tymers here so that I did not have to slip and stumble and permanently fuck people up.

That being said I would never intentionally stick my foot in someones ass unless they needed help seeing the light of day. The shop I mention has a horrible reputation, and generates money for me in cover ups. When I make mention of jamming them up with the man, its cause they deserve it.

If I stopped studying or applying myself within emergency medicine, and took back every minute of every hour I spent studying, saving lives, and teaching others, and put it into full blown apprenticing, or working in a shop or whatever Im sure I could sit amongst the pro's....

I do this day after day knowing that if I went to a shop now looking for work, they would more than likely scoff at me. I dont think there is a shop out there that would bring in an average artist despite all their medical credentialling, no matter what...Or how much that average artist could elevate the shops medical safety credibility.

No harm, no foul, and be it known that I have much love and respect for everyone here.

Bruce

[L_Pease]

If I were still a shop owner and you came in looking for work with your medical credentials I would be open to hearing your goals. If your work wasn't up to the level required but you had the potential and the drive to achieve it I would have no problem bringing you on. It would be in a learning capacity until you raised the bar on your work, but with the proper nudge in the right direction I think you would be able to get there much faster. There's a certain mold one has to be able to fit for me to have a working relationship with. It doesn't mean you have to be the greatest tattoo artist in the world...it's more about the complete package. Attitude, work habits, knowledge and skill level, and most importantly...ethics are what I look at when considering who I would work with. It is sort of like being in the mafia in that there is a certain way you have to operate to be involved. I guess like being a knight of the round table and following a "code". I operate a little outside of the stereotypical tattoo shop mold.

[Pando]

starmedic,
when i said the artist should lift his game i wasnt referring to you, i was referrring to the first post about the local artist calling the health department on icujoz, distancing tattooing from drug trafficking is a good thing,

i just wanted to make that clear

peace

[Bubba]

Bruce,
You do what you know is right, fuck em if they dont like it. Im sure youre not worried about a bunch of crackheads takin your business. These guys work long enough to buy what they need and off they go. Ive worked in those shops before, not good. If they are breaking the law, fire em up. Not saying Im an angel but I have no tolerance for stupidity. If you are ever lookin for a good drug free place to work, give me a call. Ill always have a chair for you.
Scouts out
"people who have nothing to hide, hide nothing" Dr. Phil McGraw Fuck off my wife TVO's that shit and Im addicted to that shit like crack>