VENTURA : City OKs Efforts to Curb Graffiti

Trying to stop graffiti activity in Ventura, the City Council Monday passed a law Monday that prohibits the sale of spray-paint, markers and glass-etching tools to minors.

“Graffiti is becoming a real problem in Ventura,” said Assistant City Atty. Amy Albano, who helped draft the law. “This way, we’re getting at the source of it.”

Police and city staff members said they decided to propose the ordinance after noticing a rise in vandalism since November. Two months ago, the council allocated an extra $30,000 to the city’s graffiti-removal program because increased vandalism had already drained the $50,000 cleanup fund that was set aside this fiscal year that ends June 30.

The law would take effect July 29, and businesses would be required to put spray-paint, large-tipped markers and glass cutters behind locked cases or behind a counter to prevent shoplifting. Adults would be prohibited from selling, lending or giving any of the materials to juveniles.

The cities of Ojai, Fillmore, Thousand Oaks and Oxnard already have such ordinances in effect, Ventura city officials said. Ventura County and the city of Santa Paula are also looking at similar ordinances to prohibit the sale of spray-paint or other graffiti tools to minors.