FARMINGTON -- Tanning salon owners and teens are hot about a potential ban on tanning--they gathered for a public forum on the proposed regulation last Thursday. A room full of participants showed up to address issues on banning tanning for teens 17 and younger in Davis County. A few tanning salon owners gathered several hundred signatures protesting the ban. Many of the local tanning salons also offered free tans to teens willing to show up for the public forum on the tanning ban. "I don't have a beach to go tan. I personally like to tan. I feel good when I tan," said Lisa Swisher, a 17-year-old in the county.

However, more than half of the participants who stood to protest the ban were not minors.

"You will find some of the finest tanning salons in the United States here in the county. I believe this is an issue left to the parents," said John Hall, with Coco Bay USA Tanning.

The board is looking at a number of regulations for the tanning facilities such as: cleanliness, posted warning signs, advertising and tanning devices, however, the regulation to minors was the only controversial issue.

"I support the regulations except for the regulation for minors. Without regulated tans it will force them (minors) onto the streets.

"If us as parents can't decide for our children basically what you are saying is we are too stupid to teach our children," said another tanning salon owner.

"We can lessen the risks in a controlled environment. The board is also not looking at loss of business the the salons," said Krista Cabbellos with a tanning salon in North Salt Lake.

One of the salon owners, Brian Moser claimed 72 percent of their profit came from the teens.

The CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, however, had a different view.

"I endorse all of the regulations as put forth. Tanning is similar to smoking and tobacco bans, it is cancer causing," said Ben Tanner, associate administrator for operations with the Huntsman Cancer Institute. "Right now we are seeing women between 20 and 30 years old come in with skin cancer.

"We are lobbying for similar bans to be set in other counties."

If the ban passes teens would need to drive to Salt Lake County or Weber County if they wanted to tan in a salon.

The council will accept any written comments if they are submitted at the Farmington Court House before 5 p.m. on Jan. 18.

The ban should be addressed at an upcoming Board of Health meeting Feb.14, according to county officials.





sclarke@davisclipper.com