Daniel and Linda Bumpus have worked under a handicap for eight years. They provide professional body tattoos and piercing at their Lemoore business, but they weren't allowed to put the words 'tattoo' or 'body-piercing' on their business signs when they opened their business in the fall of 1999.

"I moved my family up here from San Diego and was told if I wanted to open my business it was do it this way or not," Daniel Bumpus said.

So the pair put up their business shingle as 'Creative Designs' and set out to earn the respect of the community.

According to the Bumpuses they still, after eight years, get people dropping in thinking they offer such services as graphic art.

That all changed at Tuesday night's city council meeting. By a vote of 4-0, with council member Willard Rodarmel still on leave of absence, the council modified the 1999 conditional permit.

The Bumpuses may now advertise on the front of their business what they actually do.

According to Bakersfield attorney Dennis Beaver, who the Bumpuses had contacted, the original permit was unconstitutional.

He said the city must respect the neutrality of free speech and must be fair when enforcing codes.

There is another body tattoo and piercing business within a two-block area of Creative Designs that does have the words 'tattoo' and 'body piercing' on its front windows.

Beaver spoke before the city council and encouraged them to do the right thing.

Also speaking in favor of the change was Lemoore resident John Plourde, who added that he was a member of the city council when the original permit was approved and didn't vote for it in 1999.

He said he felt the Bumpuses should not have to pay any additional fees to reapply for a new permit if the council decided to allow them to change their business sign to include the words. John Tyler also spoke in favor of changing the permit.

"The new sign will go up as soon as we can find someone to make it and get our plans approved," Daniel Bumpus said with a smile after the meeting.

Judy Finney reports for The Lemoore Advance.

(Feb. 21, 2008)