06-03-2025
Local tattoo artists discuss the Ink of Hope Act requiring human trafficking training
TENNESSEE (WJHL) – The Ink of Hope Act passed the Tennessee General Assembly, which requires tattoo artists to undergo training to recognize and help stop human trafficking.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, tattoo artists renewing their licenses will be required to watch a short video on the signs of human trafficking and how to safely report it to authorities. The training will only be one hour and is at no cost.
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Heathur Sawyer, owner of Til Death Tattoo in downtown Johnson City, said in her past while working at other shops, she has been suspicious of human trafficking.
'It's just noticing and being very close with your clients and knowing what to say and what to do to know these things,' Sawyer said. 'Sometimes it can be as simple as a very small little design, and you just have to know and recognize and understand the person that this person is with, and recognize the smallest things. That's why this training is important.'
Sawyer said a big signifier of human trafficking is noticing if a customer is not engaged in the decision process of their tattoo.
'There's not anything that shows that same sparkle as just like somebody that's getting this because they wanted to celebrate something or to commemorate something,' Sawyer said. 'This is a person that's with somebody who's making a choice for them. They're not telling you what you want. The person is telling them to you, 'this is what she's getting or this is what he's getting.' That's your number one red flag, is why is this person not making this choice for themself. Because in any tattoo shop ever, you should always be the person to make the choice for yourself. No one should make that choice for you.'
Victor Agosto at 420 Tattoos in Johnson City agrees that paying attention to customers' behaviors is important.
'You can see when somebody is in distress, you always try to find out,' Agosto said. 'Because us as tattoo artists, we talk to our customers and hopefully they will give us a sign or something that lets us know, 'hey, you know, I'm in trouble' and hopefully we'll be able to help in that situation.'
Bradley Simon at Alchemy & Shade in Piney Flats has noticed human trafficking-type behaviors in past shops he has worked in.
'I have had suspicions of certain people coming in with what is supposed to be a boyfriend or a husband, and it just felt off especially with what they were getting tattooed,' Simon said.
'There's certain tattoos that you'll see, whether it's some kind of marking that's not related to an actual initial of either of the people, maybe some type of like cartoon character, even just a symbol you might not recognize right off the bat,' Simon said. 'If it's not having to do with pop culture or anything like that, is usually a really big signifier.'
Sawyer told News Channel 11 a challenge that may come with this law is becoming a target for reporting human trafficking.
'First off, you could be wrong and then you've got a whole 'nother box of worms there,' Sawyer said. 'Or secondly, you could make some people that aren't very happy with you once you've reported this, cause if they're human trafficking, they're not going to be a good person out the rip. So it does put you in a little bit of a place of danger. But for my personal opinion, protecting other people is worth that little bit of danger you could put yourself in.'
Sawyer said she has even had to report suspected human trafficking before, although the person was not a customer.
'It was a situation that was downtown Johnson City, where we actively [saw] this girl get thrown into a vehicle and nothing could be done about it,' Sawyer said. 'At the time we reported it, that was all we could do was report it, and we had no clue where else that went. So knowing after seeing that and experiencing that, that we have an extra step that can keep people safe is honestly a relief to us as well, because it is a problem.'
Both Agosto and Simon agree that it's important to know signs of human trafficking and believe this law will be helpful.
'Even just with how long I've been doing it, I'm still learning every day, new things, new symbols, new anything,' Simon said. 'So knowing those things is really important and especially with the bill also promoting awareness towards reporting. I think that's also a huge step, is knowing how to report.'
'Truthfully, it's everybody's job to be aware,' Agosto said. 'So not only for tattoo artists, but everybody in the world, everybody, so know your surroundings. That helps a lot. Here at 420, we will be happy to comply with whatever the state needs to make us aware.'
Sawyer believes anyone with a career related to personal services can benefit from human trafficking training.
'So tattoo shops, you know, hairdressers, anything like that,' Sawyer said. 'Nail artists even, anybody touching another human should undergo this training, in my opinion.'
The Ink of Hope Act just needs a signature from Governor Bill Lee.
Rep. Rebecca Alexander from Jonesborough was one of the co-sponsors of the bill.
After Jan. 1, 2026, Tennessee tattoo artists renewing their license will have until Dec. 31, 2028 to undergo the training.
A summary of the bill can be seen here.
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