Appeals Court Reverses Key West Tattoo Shop Ruling

A federal appeals court has overturned a ruling barring a Virginia man from opening a new tattoo shop in Key West, Florida.

In a decision released last week, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the city lacked evidence in arguing that adding tattoo shops would hurt tourism.

The Key West Citizen reports the judges also found city officials misused tattoo-referencing lyrics in Jimmy Buffett's song "Margaritaville."

City officials twice referenced the song to support their argument that inebriated tourists would be more likely to get tattoos, and then regret getting tattoos if more tattoo shops were open in Key West's historic district.

The appeals court judges wrote that the singer in "Margaritaville" considers his own tattoo "a real beauty" and seems far from embarrassed about it.