New Massage Parlor Ordinance To Crack Down On Illegal Activity In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ ? The Township Council introduced a change to an ordinance aimed at curbing illegal activity in Bridgewater's massage parlors at a council meeting on Thursday.

"The police have briefed us in detail about the background and need for this particular change," said Council President Howard Norgalis.

"We believe that a way of better managing and handling the concerns about massage parlors that may not be operating within the full effect of the law is to take an administrative approach," said Councilman Michael Kirsh.

Kirsh noted that the change in the ordinance would allow the Township to go into these establishments and also allow additional enforcement, such as the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to enforce the law as well.

"And by law enforcement, I don?t mean the police. I mean the prosecutor," said Kirsh. "Sadly that has not been successful, so the approach we are now taking is from an administrative standpoint, essentially giving additional teeth to our inspector, to our court system, so that if and when any business is not operating within the scope of this ordinance, there will be additional consequences available."

Kirsh added that he hopes over time "legal businesses will succeed and prosper, and businesses that are not legal will hopefully find a different place to locate."

Township Administrator Michael Pappas said the ordinance has been worked on for about a year.

"The health department has a very important role in monitoring and inspecting these facilities. They have been intimately involved in preparing this," said Pappas.

Additionally, Pappas noted that Bridgewater's amendments are similar to those used by other municipalities that have had similar concerns and that have proved to be successful in other communities.

The ordinance was unanimously introduced on Thursday night, and it looks to amend Chapter 138(Massage and Bodywork Therapy) of the municipal code of the Township of Bridgewater to clarify certain provisions thereof.

Specifically, the ordinance defines and places regulations on, not just massage parlors, but also alternative therapy establishments such as:

• The practice of an individual who uses touch to affect the energy systems, acupoints,Qi meridians or channels of energy of the human body while engaged within the scopeof practice of a profession with established standards and ethics. Such practicesinclude acupressure, Asian bodywork therapy, polarity therapy bodywork, and reiki
• Reflexology
• The practice of an individual who uses touch, words and directed movement todeepen awareness of existing patterns of movement in the body and to suggest newpossibilities of movement, while engaged within the scope of practice of a professionwith established standards and ethics; and/or
• Any massage-like activity that does not meet the definition of "massage therapy" setforth hereinafter

Additionally, the ordinance added the following sanitation and hygiene standards that all massage establishments operating in the Township shall comply with:

• Dressing rooms must be available on the premises. Doors to such dressing rooms shall open inward and be self-closing. If the dressing room is also used as the therapy/massage room, then adequate procedures shall be in place to safeguard the privacy of the client. In no case shall these doors be locked when both a client and any employee are present. Any recording equipment shall be limited to common areas and at no time should be installed in dressing or therapy/massage rooms.
• Only oils, creams, lotions, and other preparations standard in the legitimate bodywork industry shall be permitted in the massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy establishment. Any material prurient in nature is strictly prohibited.
• No massage, bodywork and somatic therapy establishments shall have a locked exterior entrance door during the time of operation. The ?buzzing in? of clientele into a lobby area is prohibited.
• No massage, bodywork and somatic therapy establishments shall have any opaque windows/doors or drawn window/door treatments on the exterior of the building that would block clear view of any public spaces inside of the establishment.
• No employee of any massage, bodywork, or somatic therapy establishment shall possess any personal lubricant, lingerie or suggestive clothing, condoms or sexual aids/toys, while working in the establishment, nor will any of said items be permitted inside of any massage, bodywork, or somatic therapy establishment.

A public hearing and final vote on the ordinance will be held at the Dec. 3 Council meeting.

See the full ordinance below:

11b by Alexis Tarrazi

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