They boast a clientele as young as 10 months old and as old as But as the state tries to crack down on a growing problem, these massage therapy pros are concerned they'll be caught in the crossfire. It's a serious business of stress and pain relief - but don't call it a massage parlor. It's those unscrupulous parlors - many of them operating in the shadows of rural North Carolina - that the state is cracking down on.
In , there were cases of human trafficking; it's a form of slavery where victims are forced to work or perform sex acts - some of it done under the guise of a massage business. Last summer, state lawmakers passed a new law imposing tougher penalties for human traffickers as well as new regulations for massage therapy businesses to keep them from being used by human traffickers.
Regulators want to mandate the size of treatment rooms to 10 feet by 12 feet. It's one of the many new rules drawing the ire of legitimate therapists like Ford. And renovating the room to meet those new requirements would not be a cheap fix. The N. Board of Massage and Bodywork is the panel of state regulators finalizing the new rules and regulations. Charles Wilkins is the board's legal counsel. He told ABC11 the rules are not yet written in stone.
The board is taking public comment on the proposals until mid-May. Laura Ford said she and her network of therapists plan to test that pledge by speaking out loudly. They'll have to shut down. They will have to. Welcome, Mickey. Manage MyDisney Account.
Log Out. Facing possible 'shutdown,' NC massage therapists push back against new state rules. By Joel Brown. Friday, March 23, Legitimate massage therapists feel they could be pushed out of business by tightened state laws. Report a correction or typo. Watch Live. Big temperature dip after a record high. Large fight after East Wake High basketball game, 3 arrested. Why the cost of your prescription meds could be impacted by tariffs.
