LA HABRA : Ordinance Targets Graffiti Vandals

Hoping to curb the graffiti problem here, City Council members this week gave preliminary approval to an ordinance banning aerosol spray paint and marker pens on all public grounds, including schools and parks.

In the fight against taggers, City Manager Lee Risner said, “we don’t know if (the ordinance) is a cure-all, but it’s another tool.”

The ordinance also requires business owners to lock up spray cans and markers at all times in an effort to dissuade people from stealing such items. The business owners may be prohibited from selling the items to minors.

Council members hope that the ordinance will at least slow down vandals who deface public property throughout the city.

In lieu of facing a court hearing, minors who are caught defacing property may serve 100 to 300 hours of community service under the new ordinance. That service would come in the form of graffiti removal or other manual labor.

Parents or guardians would be required to watch their children do the work.

City officials believe that the community service will help rehabilitate graffiti vandals. “This gives the police chief another (alternative) to filing charges against the youths,” Risner said.

“I hope we can slow (graffiti vandalism) down and eventually get rid of it,” Councilman Steven C. Anderson said.

Council members are expected to formally approve the ordinance at their next meeting May 20, when they will also consider adding further anti-graffiti restrictions.