County OKs New Graffiti Crackdown : Vandalism: Ordinance will require stores to keep spray-paint and markers inaccessible to the public. Youths tell supervisors the law will not stop ‘tagging.’

Calling for tougher laws against vandalism, the Board of Supervisors approved an anti-graffiti ordinance Tuesday that will place new restrictions on the sale of spray-paint cans in Los Angeles County’s unincorporated communities.

The vote followed a “graffiti summit” of officials from public schools, transit agencies, law enforcement and county government. The three-hour public hearing was capped by a lively debate between Supervisor Gloria Molina and two teen-age “taggers” from Compton who challenged the effectiveness of the anti-graffiti measure.

“You can lock me up, but you’re not going to arrest all of us,” 18-year-old Dion Evans told the supervisors. “How are you guys going to make us stop? You don’t know how.”

Under the terms of the ordinance, merchants will be required to place spray-paint cans and large marking pens where they will not be accessible to the public, either behind counters or in locked shelves.

“Graffiti vandalism is costing the public millions of dollars,” said Supervisor Deane Dana, who organized the hearing. “These dollars could . . . be used to create recreational programs for our youths.”

Violation of the new law will be a misdemeanor carrying a $500 fine or a six-month jail sentence. It will be applicable in unincorporated communities such as East Los Angeles and Marina del Rey.

Speakers representing a variety of groups and government agencies called for a get-tough approach to the problem. Some supported the creation of a “graffiti court” to prosecute vandals outside the mainstream of the juvenile justice system.

Long Beach resident Candace Mead spoke of her frustration with police and prosecutors, saying they failed to take action when she caught a 17-year-old youth vandalizing a tree and lamppost in front of her home. When police declined to arrest the young man, Mead performed a citizen’s arrest.

“The police told me it would be a waste of time,” Mead said of the arrest. “And it was.” Mead said the young man was never prosecuted, despite the fact that she had photographed him in the act.

Officials from Caltrans, the Los Angeles Unified School District and other agencies complained of the high costs of cleaning up graffiti. Rapid Transit District officials said removing graffiti from buses and RTD facilities costs $13 million a year.

Even small government entities are affected--Baldwin Park officials said graffiti removal costs their city $200,000 annually. Supervisor Mike Antonovich said: “Graffiti is the death rattle of the neighborhood. We’re dying; our businesses are leaving.”

Many speakers suggested that parents of arrested vandals be forced to make restitution payments to owners of damaged property.

Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti warned of increasing violence associated with graffiti and taggers, youths who leave signature-style markings on any highly visible public or private space. Last month, a student at Reseda High School was shot and killed in an incident related to tagging.

“No longer are we talking about innocent young people scrawling their names,” Garcetti said.

Still, board Chairman Ed Edelman questioned whether police crackdowns or tougher laws could stop graffiti.

“We need to find the root causes,” Edelman said. “Clearly, it must satisfy the need to be recognized. It’s a shame (these young people) have to get the recognition in a destructive way. I don’t think law enforcement alone can solve the problem. The traditional approaches aren’t working.”

This sentiment was later echoed by the two graffiti taggers. Evans called for more art and recreation programs in poor communities. “We’re victims too,” he said. “We’re victims of our community.”

Evans added: “I’m an artist.”

Molina shot back: “No, you are a criminal. . . . You can write on a piece of paper. On my wall, it is a crime.”