Chesterfield massage therapists continue to push for changes to regulations - WRIC ABC 8News

[massage]

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Several licensed massage therapists in Chesterfield County are continuing their push to have county leaders change or remove regulations to address an increase in human trafficking.

In Sept. 2023, county leaders approved policy changes to assist in the regulation of massage businesses. The new rules implemented restricted hours of operation, inspections and permitting.

In response, several massage therapists have called the ordinance confusing, saying the communication during the implementation process was poor. Because of this, they want to see licensed therapists join the conversation to either revise or revoke the current plan.

“I don’t understand, it’s very confusing,” said massage therapist Melanie Scruton. “The ordinance has lots of issues that need to be worked out — lots of issues.”

While 8News has reported several arrests this year, some therapists question the lasting power of that enforcement.

RELATED: Four massage therapists charged after undercover police operations at two Chesterfield businesses

“They’ve done some raids, they’ve shut some places down — but they’ve opened back up under a different ownership with a different name,” said Scruton.

The Chesterfield Police Department confirmed that some businesses have reopened under new ownership in the county and that others have likely moved to other jurisdictions. A spokesperson told 8News the following:

“We can’t prevent them from opening in other locals, we can do everything in our power to ensure the businesses in our county are legal and legitimate, meaning the business has a valid permit to operate and their therapists are legally licensed to perform massage dictated by the Va Board of Nursing.”

Spokesperson for the Chesterfield Police Department

“Prostitution is the oldest profession — there have been prostitutes for years, human trafficking is a terrible thing,” said massage therapist Richele Barone. “[But] permitting massage businesses [is] not going to stop that problem.”

Adblock test (Why?)