Tattooing now legal at Northern Illinois U., city

Tattooing in DeKalb, Ill., is now legal. During Monday night's city council meeting, lifting the ban on tattooing in the city of DeKalb, which includes Northern Illinois University, under Chapter 11 of the Municipal Code was revisited with questions from the previous council meeting answered. The sticking points of insurance policy amounts, felony limitations and possible locations were answered. City Manager Mark Biernacki said the city has no issue with lowering the required insurance policy amount to $100,000 since DeKalb would be the only city that would require such a policy. An applicant also will not be eligible if he or she has had a felony in the last seven years. The previous recommended time was 10 years. "We shouldn't brand someone with the scarlet letter F," First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson said. "If someone serves their time and is clean for five years we should be more forgiving." The council also made an amendment to the ordinance that would allow tattooing in heavy industrial zones. "Who's to say you wouldn't want to land at the airport and get a tattoo?" Seventh Ward Alderman Brent Keller said. The language of the ordinance was accepted by those seeking to establish tattoo parlors in DeKalb. "I think the new rules look fair and sound and will protect us," said Kenny Weinstock, owner of Out On a Whim, 127 E. Lincoln Highway. The prospect of opening a shop in DeKalb is a welcomed idea for most tattoo artists. "I'm pretty pleased with it," said Robert Schaal, owner of five Euro Tattoo parlors in Rockford, Ill. "Tattooing today isn't like it used to be in places like DeKalb; it's pretty mainstream now." Schaal was also supportive of the more stringent measures previously proposed by the DeKalb City Council. "We should make it harder on felons," Schaal said. "I liked the 10-year time period." Schaal said Euro Tattoo is excited to bring its level of commitment to DeKalb. "I've done work on many famous people including DMX, Eddy Curry and Eddy Robinson," Schaal said. Now that the ban on tattooing has been lifted, the next step for tattooing in DeKalb is for prospective artists to obtain a location and license within DeKalb.