Ronita Yvarra is...

New Creation Tattoo

Policies, Procedures, and Principles

Principles! A shop must have them. Having strict principals that you adhere to is a must. We are tested everyday by the public.

Tattooing minors is illegal, as well as morally wrong in our opinion, so we don't do it. We have the law to back us up in this area, that way there is no argument.

Piercing on the other hand doesn't carry the same legal restrictions. That's why we must set our own standards here. Though we don't get requests for too many piercings for young people, we do get them occasionally. Young girls want to get their navels done because it's all the rage, and they seem to be getting younger everyday.

We do pierce minors, but only if they have a school I.D., and are accompanied by a parent with a matching I.D. The thing is -- school I.D.'s aren't issued until junior high, so we've decided that 12-years-old are at our cut-off age. We will not pierce you if you are under that age (except for ear piercings, which are okay). This causes a little stress for us because we get the argument from the kid and/or the parent. "But I really want it" or "She's very mature for her age, come on man she'll take care of it we promise, what if we bring in her birth certificate?" No means no. Harsh sometimes, but necessary.

The principles you set for your shop will also effect the reputation your shop holds in your community. Our studio has a very good reputation, and we plan to keep it that way. We don't tattoo minors or drunk people. We won't tattoo hate stuff, white power/Nazi stuff, or racial slurs. We don't run discounts, coupons, or group specials. Not that these things are necessarily bad, or that in the past we haven't tried them. But as this business has matured to where we are now, those things aren't the image we want.

Having a professional image and atmosphere are very important to us. Our clients must feel that they can trust what we say and what we do.

Tattooing or Piercing minors is illegal, as well as morally wrong in our opinion, so we don't do it. We have the law to back us up in this area, that way there is no argument.

California Penal Code - Section 652 & 653

652. (a) It shall be an infraction for any person to perform or offer to perform body piercing upon a person under the age of 18 years, unless the body piercing is performed in the presence of, or as directed by a notarized writing by, the person's parent or guardian.
(b) This section does not apply to the body piercing of an emancipated minor.
(c) As used in this section, "body piercing" means the creation of an opening in the body of a human being for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration, including, but not limited to, the piercing of a lip, tongue, nose, or eyebrow. "Body piercing" does not include the piercing of an ear.
(d) Neither the minor upon whom the body piercing was performed, nor the parent or guardian of that minor, nor any other minor is liable for punishment under this section.

Every person who tattoos or offers to tattoo a person under the age of 18 years is guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, to "tattoo" means to insert pigment under the surface of the skin of a human being, by pricking with a needle or otherwise, so as to produce an indelible mark or figure visible through the skin. This section is not intended to apply to any act of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts performed in the course of his practice.

"Nuff Said!