By Jason Scheer and Nick Buglione
On Monday, April 4, the Nassau County Legislature unanimously passed legislation making it tougher for teens to use tanning facilities. According to the new law, tanning salon patrons under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and those between ages 16 and 18 must have written permission from a parent or legal guardian. Upon the customer's first visit, all tanning facilities must provide the customer with a written warning to be signed by the customer prior to using any ultraviolet radiation device. The signed warning will be kept on file by the facility.
In addition to the age requirements, the law states that any customer who wishes to use a tanning facility must be required to wear protective eyewear or be provided with protective eyewear without additional charge. Also, the tanning facility must display a visible warning sign near the front or main entrance and within three feet of any ultraviolet radiation device.
The Nassau County Department of Health will enforce the new law, and tanning facilities found in violation for the first time face a $500 fine. For repeat offenders, fines go as high as $1500.
"The purpose is to make the public aware," said Nassau County Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow), a member of the Legislature's Health Committee.
Gonsalves introduced the legislation after Colette Coyne, of the New Hyde Park-based Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign, spoke before the committee on the dangers of tanning beds in August 2004.
Coyne, whose daughter of the same name died of melanoma in 1998 at the age of 30, has previously made presentations to the East Meadow Kiwanis and East Meadow Little League on the importance of sun safety with children.
Characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing tanning cells, melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the country, accounting for more than 80 percent of skin cancer deaths, Coyne said.
Extreme sun exposure in the first 10 to 18 years of a person's life is one of the main causes of melanoma, according to the American Melanoma Foundation. Evidence also shows that exposure to UVA and UVB rays, the kind emitted from tanning beds, can lead to melanoma.
"I think it's an important function of government to make sure that our constituents are well informed about the potential risks of certain behaviors," said Nassau County Legislator Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside), who co-sponsored the legislation.
East Meadow chiropractor Dr. Alan Alterman, who has been diagnosed twice with melanoma, applauded the new law. "I was diagnosed with melanoma in 1999 and I attribute that to over exposure to the sun as a child," he said. "The incidence of melanoma increases with exposure to UVA and UVB rays you get at tanning beds. This legislation is important to make parents aware of the risks today that kids face by going to tanning salons."
Not everyone is in favor of the law, however. Michael Reilly, owner of Heat Wave Tanning in Merrick, said that the Legislature is overstepping the boundaries of regulation. "I don't believe the government should be butting in," he said. "More often, when government gets involved in things like this and regulates business, it creates a bigger problem."
Reilly said that his facility has already adopted a responsible attitude when it comes to teenage tanning. Heat Wave requires parental consent, and will not service someone who is too young. "We already require parents' signatures on all the forms, so I don't need the government butting in and telling me how to run my business," he said.
Reilly said that most of his clientele is over age 16, but for younger customers he traditionally uses spray booths. Also, he makes sure customers don't overdo it. "Tanning in moderation is actually healthy," he said. "Just like a drink or two of wine is healthy but drinking 10 bottles a day is a problem."
Keith Moran, the owner of Planet Sun, also in Merrick, is also not in favor of the legislation. "It's just more of an inconvenience," he said. "I don't see any benefits to it."
Moran said it is unfair to fine tanning facilities for the actions of young patrons. "I don't [have patrons under 18], but you never know if they send someone here who is underage and then I get fined for it," he said. "I feel it should be the parents' responsibility to watch what the kids are doing, but obviously [the Legislature] is putting it on the shop owners."
An employee at Sun Kissed Tanning Salon in Long Beach, who asked that her name not be used, was in favor of the law. She said that it's a good way to temper teenagers who are out of control. "It's the safest thing for them, and teenagers tend to get out of hand when it comes to tanning," she said.
She added that her salon enacted age restrictions years ago, and that she hopes this law makes the tanning safer for young people.
Comments about this story? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
Legislation cosponsor Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside) said that the bill would help counteract the growing incidence of skin cancer. "We learn more about skin cancer and more about how melanoma is a deadly cancer," Toback said. "Everyone by now knows someone who has had it, and health-related issues are becoming more and more prevalent."
The legislator said that the law would help raise awareness of the dangers of tanning. "I think it's an important function of government to make sure that our constituents are well informed about the potential risks of certain behaviors, and especially with the undisputed science that shows exposure to UVA and UVB rays are more harmful to children," Toback said.
