LA PALMA : City Toughens Law Against Graffiti

The city has adopted a law that will allow police officers to arrest potential graffiti vandals even before they pop the top of an aerosol spray can.

The law makes it illegal for adults to possess graffiti implements while in any city public park or recreational facility or while loitering near an underpass, bridge abutment, storm drain or any other out-of-the-way place commonly hit with graffiti.

Children may not possess graffiti implements anywhere in public unless they are needed for an art class and the student is taking them to or from the class. On private property, the children must have the permission of the owner to have graffiti implements.

The law defines graffiti implements as aerosol paint containers; devices containing a solid form of chalk, paint or wax; felt-tip markers with a tip wider than 1/16th of an inch, or difficult-to-remove gummed labels.

The City Council unanimously approved the law Tuesday night and set penalties of $1,000 and up to six months in jail for violators.

The stiffer law “is going to give us some teeth” in enforcement against the growing number of graffiti “taggers,” Police Chief David S. Barr said.

La Palma, the county’s smallest city at 1.7 square miles, plans to spend $35,000 this budget year to remove graffiti.

Besides broadening the definition of illegal graffiti-related acts, the law also holds parents financially responsible for damage done by children.

The council also set a $100 reward Tuesday for anyone providing police with information leading to the conviction of graffiti vandals. Half of that money comes from the Lions Club.