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Temecula considers stricter standards for massage therapists
Massage therapists in Temecula would need hundreds of hours more in training, and their businesses would have an earlier closing time under an ordinance being prepared by city officials and police.
The ordinance could be presented to the Temecula City Council on Sept. 23, according to police Lt. Terry Meadows.
The rules are intended to promote public health and safety and crack down on prostitution and other illicit activities, officials say.
“We want to make sure that all the businesses are legitimate and that the public safety is enhanced,” Meadows said.
Temecula has seen an increase in the number of businesses seeking massage permits. The number has jumped from eight to 10 a few years ago to 35 today.
While there have been no prostitution arrests connected to massage businesses in the past 12 months, such arrests have occurred in prior years, Meadows said.
Under the new ordinance, police would take a more active role in overseeing the local massage trade, Meadows said.
The ordinance would require therapists to have at least 720 hours of instruction from certified instructors, a requirement similar to Murrieta’s. Currently, therapists need 100 hours of training.
Businesses would have to close by 9 p.m. instead of midnight, and the ordinance would contain more specific language barring the massaging of certain body areas, such as the genitals.
The ordinance contains new health requirements such as the changing of linens between clients. Recordkeeping rules would be tightened and suggestive advertising banned.
In addition, a manager and a massage technician must be on duty at all times and businesses cannot be run where someone lives.
Massage therapists had mixed reactions to the proposed rules.
Kari Hunter, a therapist at Golden Touch Massage in Old Town, said while she likes the requirements for fresh linens and more training, clients do come in after 9 p.m., the proposed closing time.
“A lot of people come from San Diego after work, and that’s when they can come,” she said.
Carol Rosales, a therapist who runs Fusion Therapeutic Massage in Old Town, generally supports training requirements. She said that while more training might not stop everyone from engaging in crime, even those who received licenses with the minimum 100 hours of training might be deterred from illegal activity.
“The higher the standards they hold us to, (it) can only help our reputation in our community,” she said.
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