IRVINE : City Waters Down Anti-Graffiti Plan

The City Council gave initial approval this week to a watered-down anti-graffiti law that will prohibit people from carrying large felt-tip marking pens “for the purpose of applying graffiti.”

Earlier this month, the council considered adopting a much stricter law that would have made it illegal for anyone under 18 years old to buy or carry a large marking pen.

The council backed away from the restrictions, after tentatively approving them last month, and asked city officials to draft a less-restrictive law. The rewritten law will require a second vote before taking effect.

Unchanged in the proposal is a requirement that property owners have graffiti removed within seven days. The city will offer to remove the graffiti for free. If the owner refuses, the law will allow city workers to enter the property, remove the graffiti and bill the owner.

The proposed law will make it a misdemeanor to possess large marking pens, those with tips larger than 4 millimeters, with the intent to apply graffiti. The law also creates a $500 reward for people who provide information that leads to the conviction of a graffiti vandal.