Wayne Looks To Ban Nude Massages, Fingerprint Masseuses
Proposed law requires private areas be covered, overtly bans sexual encounters, create new health standards
Wayne is looking to tighten its grip on massage parlors with a slew of new regulations that ban exposed genitals and require background checks for masseuses.
Employees would not be permitted to “perform, or offer to perform any act, which would require the touching of a patron’s sexual or genital area.”
The new law would require a patron’s private area be covered by "towels, cloths, or undergarments” when they are in the presence of an employee.
“Certainly there are some [massage parlors] that provide a service to the community and then there are those that do not,” Mayor Chris Vergano said when the ordinance was discussed Wednesday during the council session.
Massage therapists must be licensed by the township, submit to a background check and be fingerprinted. Therapists’ permits must be displayed “in an open and prominent place” in the establishment.
“We have, over time, checked on several establishments because sometimes customers complain about maybe seeing something they think shouldn’t be happening,” Police Chief John Reardon said.
The new ordinance also calls for stricter health requirements:
- Each massage room must contain a sink, changing area, and shower.
- Owners need to submit a sterilization plan for all non-disposable materials and equipment used in giving massages.
- Therapists would also need to wash their hands before administering a massage.
The health department would inspect each establishment at least twice a year.
Any business or therapist already licensed by the township is exempt from the provisions of the ordinance until 2013.
Eddie Wu, owner of Massage Envy, said that there "needs to regulations regarding massage parlors, we've just got to make sure that the regulations don't hurt existing businesses."
Scondo
7:06 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Is there has there been a problem, then if not there is no need for a regulation. A single shortcoming is not a reason for an ordinance change.
Justice
7:56 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Are you kidding mean? More regulation? Sounds like another money maker for the Township.
Frank Drackman
9:04 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Did something happen in Wayne that I don't know about. As far as I know people are covered by a towel when they have a "nude" massage. Why is this worth the time and effort of the Wayne government? Is there no other bigger problems they really need to face? Is this there way of saying we have a prostitution situation in this town? If so where?
Joe Peters
9:49 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Think Wayne might have a few more pressing problems than worrying about the placement of a towel during a massage----please go clean up the rivers.
Scondo
11:22 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
oh I see. They want to bring happy ending to massage which is prostitution in disguise.
Justice
11:45 am on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Yes, which brings us to my earlier comment of a money-maker for Wayne. Not only in fees, but more so in fines when code enforcement arbitrarily tickets these establishments based on the cycle of the moon. (a little sarcasm filled with truth thrown in there).
leanore
3:18 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
dont know if having a shower in every massage room is feasible, never see that even in any spa? have there people who make these laws ever gone for a massage? Now truth be told, I have tried to find a massage place in town besides massage envy which is overpriced, and hence, the massages i got in town were scary and I am a girl! Yes, they should be washing their hands and have a place to do that. I think something is going on in wayne with massage places...something is not right. I almost went to a police station after having one in wayne right by the triple A office! dont go there!
Chris Traynor
5:35 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
DICTIONARY OF Bureaucratic/Cultural Definitions for 21st Century America:
ASININE - action or attitude that is considered extremely foolish
ASSININE - same as above accept the act or attitude is so extremely foolish that the person behind the idea must resemble and/or share the odor of "ass"
ASSASSININE - a 3rd degree act or thought that has not one identifiable beneficial element for mankind and so the originator of the harmful and reckless concept must be shot nine times in the ass by a rogue agent of the State trained in wet work
THIS IDEA IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, ASSASSININE. Someone needs to purchase an ass shield.
Tom Troncone
7:06 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Huh?
fboy1932
5:54 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Doesnt townhall have better things to clean up?
Justice
7:43 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012
Apparently not. It seems that they want their hands on everything and everyone. No pun intended. This is becoming a dirty, dirty joke. How about cleaning up the rivers, the toxic sites, the BOE, the Town Hall, the Council???
Wayne Parent
10:19 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
This has nothing to do with anything but busting Happy Ending/Shady Parlors. Dont know if it is a problem in Wayne (I know NYC tried to crack down on them a few years back). To be honest...even if there were happy endings happening...why do we care? Dont we have better places to focus our time and attention than on thepathetic men who frequent these establishments?
charmed
11:31 am on Monday, March 12, 2012
I guess most of you making comments on here really don't read the paper, there have been issues with massage parlors in town! Why you would want that going on is beyond me!
Nutridoll
11:58 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
It has been an issue in Wayne. Everyone talks about taking care of bigger issues but all the issues make up what our town becomes. It's a quality of life issue.
Michelle
1:06 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
This is ridiculous and will not solve the problem. The places that are practicing illegal acts will continue to do so and in the meantime they are putting unnecessary restrictions on Massage Parlors who do follow current guidelines. Ridiculous!
Wayne Parent
1:22 pm on Monday, March 12, 2012
@charmed...is the issue that some parlors are giving happy endings? While I think it is shady, pathetic and a bit gross...honestly...I dont care enough about it that I want to spend time or money on a crackdown on this. If there is any sort of human trafficking of the girls involved...then go after them...but if the "issues" you are talking about are that some massages cross the line and both adults involved are consenting...it is a victimless crime that I dont care about.
Dick Black
1:38 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Who would even know what goes on behind a closed door beside the masseuse and the client? Sounds like someone got caught getting a happy ending by his wife or girlfriend. This goes on in every town, it is not a big deal. It doesn't happen on the sidewalk, your children are in no danger. Except from over-parenting.