TUSTIN : Graffiti Informants to Get Cash Awards

In an effort to put more teeth into its anti-graffiti campaign, the City Council on Monday approved a proposal to pay $250 to anyone providing information that leads to the conviction of graffiti vandals.

A city ordinance, adopted in November, 1991, provided for cash rewards to informants, but officials said it was necessary to set a fixed bounty.

“We came up with the amount after talking to other cities with similar programs,” Assistant City Manager Christine Shingleton said. “A larger amount didn’t necessarily seem to be more effective.”

Shingleton said the reward money will not come from the city, but would be financed by fines on offenders. Under the graffiti ordinance, anyone arrested for graffiti vandalism can be fined $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second offense. The crime is a misdemeanor. In the case of minors, parents or the guardians of convicted vandals would be liable for the fines and cleanup costs.

In a report to the council, Police Chief W. Douglas Franks said that during the past two years, 15 youths and two adults have been arrested for graffiti vandalism. He said, however, that making arrests has been difficult because vandals strike sporadically and do not follow a pattern.

According to the Public Works Department, the cost of graffiti removal and cleanup has soared since July. In July the city spent $40 on the problem, but five months later, the cost was $3,850 for the month of December.