The municipality of Bangkok (BMA) will take action against the hundreds of tattoo shops in the Thai capital. A large majority does not have a permit for getting tattoos and there are only 50 registered shops.
The BMA is shocked by the rumor that four women have died after having a tattoo placed at the same shop.
According to Deputy Governor Thawisak, tattoo parlors that are not licensed under the Public Health Act 1992 will be closed immediately.
Violations are punishable by a maximum imprisonment of six months and/or a fine of 50.000 baht. If the owner reports voluntarily, no fine will be given. Of the 50 registered tattoo shops, 17 are located in Phra Nakhon district, including on backback street Khao San Road.
Recently, the city of Bangkok dealt with an owner of a mobile tattoo shop. He had his equipment mounted on the rear rack of a bicycle. This unsanitary practice is said to have led to the death of a 22-year-old Thai woman a month ago, who was diagnosed with HIV by a doctor. The woman's father is convinced that she and three friends were infected when they got a tattoo from this 'tattoo artist' in March.
The National Association of Thailand Tattoo Artists wants a law that recognizes tattooing as a profession, tattoo artists must then be in possession of a license to practice that profession.
Source: Bangkok Post
Next to The Mall in Bang Kapie / Bangkok is a huge market with countless Tatoo shops, one even worse than the other.