Politics & Government

Christie Signs Teen Tanning Law Despite Small Business Concerns

The law, inspired by the national uproar created by Nutley's "Tanning Mom," seeks to protect New Jersey's youth from the most common form of cancer.

Teens looking to get tan this summer should read a new bill that passed in New Jersey on Monday and restricts certain types of tanning for minors.

The new law bans anyone under 18 from using a tanning bed and anyone under 14 from getting a spray tan. 

Gov. Christie signed the bill into law Monday and issued a lengthy statement expressing a desire to protect children from the skin cancer while keeping the rights of businesses — especially small businesses — intact.  

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Even if motivated by good intentions, rules and restrictions on the use of property, the exercise of rights, and the opportunities to prosper can have a corrosive effect on our State’s growth, and the lives of our citizens," Christie said. "When the regulations in question fall largely upon our State’s small businesses, those concerns are particularly important, and require a sensitive and sensible approach to policy."

People who begin using a tanning bed before the age of 35 increase their risk for skin cancer by 75 percent, according to one statistic cited by the governor. 

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I sign this bill because of the documented and well-understood risks associated with misuse of indoor tanning systems," Christie said. "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overuse of indoor tanning has been associated with an increased risk for skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States."

The legislation was written after Nutley resident Patricia Krentcil was accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth last year. She was subsequently charged with child endangerment. The deeply tanned Krentcil became a grotesque sort of celebrity, with tabloids dubbing her Tanning Mom.

New Jersey already bans anyone 14 or younger from using indoor tanning beds because of the risk of melanoma.

The American Suntanning Association said the decision should be left to parents, and the legislation could lead to teens using more harmful methods to obtain a tan.

"The American Suntanning Association is disappointed that Gov. Christie and the New Jersey legislature have decided that government should have more of a say in teenagers' lives than their parents," the group said in a statement. "When evaluating risks, the World Health Organization recognizes sunbeds and sunlight in the same category. Just as parents have guided their children to avoid sunburn while enjoying days at the beach or playing little league the same should be the case for sun beds. We worked diligently to offer a compromise including stricter regulations, more enforcement and fines and greater parental control, New Jersey has let hysteria supersede the balance between parental rights and effective policy.

"Blanket bans do not respect the balanced truth about UV exposure. This law will only drive teens to riskier alternatives like home units and beaches."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here