Lakewood : Ordinance Will Put Spray Paints Behind Counter
The Lakewood City Council has joined the state and county in trying to curb graffiti by curbing the sale and display of spray paint. It introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would require store owners in that city to keep all spray paint cans, regardless of size, off the shelves and in areas not accessible to the public.
A state law prevents people under 18 years of age from buying a can of spray paint larger than six ounces.
The Legislature left it up to local governments to regulate the sale of small cans, which, according to city officials, are easily shoplifted and concealed. On Jan. 16, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a measure requiring store owners to keep spray paint containers weighing six ounces or less off the shelves and in secure areas. The county measure is only effective in unincorporated areas.
The Lakewood proposal is scheduled to be ratified by the council at its Feb. 27 meeting.
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