New law would make it tough for minors to buy graffiti tools
10:09 p.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Right now, buying a can of spray paint is easy for anyone, including children who could use it to damage property. But that could all change if one City Council member has her way.
“They're tired of it. They want to see something done,” said City Council member Sylvia Ortiz.
After numerous complaints about graffiti from residents in her district, Ortiz put together a law that would ban anyone 18 and younger from buying or using "graffiti implements."
Graffiti Law
Tuesday night, the City Council voted to send the proposal to committee for further review. You can read the full text of the ordinance here.
And that doesn't mean just spray paint. Even things like wide-tipped permanent markers are on the list of items that minors can not have unless supervised by an adult.
“They're still people who think it's unfair to the youth who aren't doing destruction, but so far I've got positive feedback,” she said.
Ortiz says graffiti is becoming a city-wide problem. She says sending the police department's gang unit to take pictures and others to clean it up is costing taxpayers money.
That's why there is a stiff penalty for violating the law. A fine of $100 to $499 could be imposed and violators could spend up to 179 days in jail.
Ace Hardware Sales Associate Michael Swartz says the penalties should be enough reason for parents and kids to follow the rules.
“The gold and silver spray paints are on a list for huffing and things like that, so we keep those under watch anyway and putting other spray paints under watch isn't going to be that more difficult for us,” Swartz said.
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