Fullerton Council Toughens Rules for Massage Businesses

In a campaign to oust unqualified masseuses and close establishments that may be fronts for prostitution, the Fullerton City Council voted unanimously Wednesday for tougher inspections and more careful monitoring of massage businesses.

The council postponed until July 18 a vote on whether to increase masseuse training and fees.

“We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Councilman Chris Norby said. “We don’t want to punish the innocent to slice out the guilty.”

Owners and employees of four massage parlors in Fullerton were charged last year with 130 criminal violations, including pandering, sexual assault and drug offenses, police Sgt. Joe Klein said.

Last month, police issued warrants for the arrest of 25 masseuses suspected of using fraudulent licenses to work in the city. Fourteen have been arrested and 11 are being sought.

With the number of massage parlors in the city now at 25, up from a dozen two years ago, police are concerned that illicit activity is increasing. The aim, officials say, is to eliminate unlawful operations so the reputation of legitimate massage establishments will not be tarnished.

The changes approved Wednesday deal primarily with building code enforcement for massage businesses and take effect in 30 days. The more controversial issue is a proposal to require masseuses to take a written and practical test, complete 500 hours of training, and pay fees of $125 for testing and $310 for a license.

Some masseuses say more stringent rules would be a hardship.

“I feel that this isn’t necessary,” said Katrina Hill, owner of Bodycentre in Fullerton. Her employees cannot afford additional fees or put in extra hours for training, she said.

Mayor F. Richard Jones responded: “We don’t want to hurt the massage people. In fact, we hope that, by getting the image of prostitution out, we will enhance their image.”

Police Capt. Ron Rowell told City Council members that the best way to curb prostitution is to screen out unqualified masseuses. If that is not done, he said, problems with illicit operations probably will get worse. The Police Department is reviewing the permit of each of the city’s 160 registered masseuses, he said.