GARDEN GROVE : New Anti-Graffiti Law Goes Into Effect

A tough new law aimed at cracking down on graffiti vandals went into effect this week.

The ordinance was unanimously adopted Tuesday by the City Council as an urgency measure and took effect immediately.

The ordinance makes it illegal to deface public and private property or to have aerosol spray paint or other graffiti-marking tools at parks, libraries and other public places.

It also sets a reward of up to $500 for apprehension of vandals, and makes parents of minors financially responsible for the acts of their children.

The ordinance also permits city workers to remove graffiti at property owners’ expense if graffiti activity is determined to be a public nuisance.

Police Chief Stanley L. Knee said the ordinance will help police deliver “an appropriate blow” to graffiti taggers, whose activity has increased markedly in recent months.

As part of the ordinance, first-time juvenile offenders will serve 32 hours of community service painting over graffiti in the city, Knee said. They will also be required to pay $25 to cover the costs of an adult supervisor.

Second offenders may do time in Juvenile Hall, he said.

Adults arrested for a graffiti offense could face 200 hours of community service, three years of probation and loss of a driver’s license, Knee said.

Knee told City Council members that his officers have arrested 85 graffiti taggers since November; 70 of them were between the ages of 12 and 16.

Knee said he would launch a program targeting businesses that sell aerosol cans and also publicize the penalties to young taggers through an educational program in cooperation with the Garden Grove Unified School District.

The city relies largely on volunteers to remove graffiti, but still expects to spend about $100,000 on the problem in the fiscal year ending June 30.

One full-time and one part-time city employee work on graffiti removal. In addition, park and water department crews are supplied with paint and brushes to cover over graffiti at city parks and on water tanks.

The city also supplies occasional volunteers with paint and brushes. Other volunteers have adopted neighborhoods from which they remove graffiti on an ongoing basis.