Tougher Massage Parlor Regulations Adopted

Hoping to diminish the risk of prostitution in the city, the City Council on Monday adopted tougher regulations for massage parlors.

The council action is the latest move spanning years of dispute pitting massage parlor owners and employees against some residents and city officials over how to regulate those businesses.

Owners of more than half a dozen massage parlors have filed suits against the city this year, alleging its ordinance attempts to shut them down. Massage operators have deemed unrealistic the city’s written test and some of the permit requirements.

Several related lawsuits against the city allege police bullying and civil conspiracy to discourage those businesses.

City officials have maintained the claims are unfounded.

In 1992, the City Council adopted an ordinance requiring all massage businesses to apply for operating licenses. The new policy adds provisions requiring massagers seeking licenses to meet several requirements:

* Passing a written test with a 70% score every 36 months.

* Completing at least 500 state-certified hours of instruction, up from 300 hours.

* Massaging may not extend beyond 10 p.m. nor begin before 7 a.m.

* Obtaining insurance of no less than $500,000 to protect the public against injury.

The law also allows police to check associates listed on applications for massage parlors to determine whether any of them have criminal backgrounds.

The council added a “grandfather” clause that will allow veteran massagers with less than 500 certified hours to challenge the test.