NY eyes ways to curb teen tanning, decriminalize youth sexting, ban smoking in cars with kids

NY mulls indoor tanning rules, other youth laws

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York is increasing regulation of tanning salons and gyms offering indoor ultraviolet rays even as health advocates push to ban exposure by anyone under 18.

Last year, the World Health Organization classified indoor tanning as a definite cause of cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 68,000 cases of melanoma this year, more than 8,000 of them fatal.

New York law bans commercial indoor tanning for children under 14 and requires parental consent for those from 14 to 18.

The state Health Department plans this fall to begin tighter enforcement of current laws regulating tanning businesses.