AGOURA HILLS : Council Supports Anti-Graffiti Law

Bringing its anti-graffiti policies in line with those of a growing number Southland cities, the Agoura Hills City Council this week gave preliminary approval to a law requiring merchants to keep spray paint out of customers’ reach.

At its regular meeting Wednesday night, the council unanimously approved the measure, which is designed to prevent the theft of spray paint, said Brian Torsney of the Agoura Hills Public Works Department.

The measure is scheduled for final approval Sept. 8.

“The thinking is that, if the materials are not readily available and they’re locked up, it will be harder to do graffiti,” Torsney said. “The majority of graffiti paint is stolen.”

The law also would require merchants to keep markers with tips wider than 4 millimeters in locked cabinets, or otherwise out of the reach of customers. The sale of spray paint and wide-tip markers to minors already is prohibited by state law.

The measure was criticized as harsh on businesses and ineffective by one paint vendor.

“They’re punishing us for something that other people are doing,” said Lumber City owner Jess Ruf.

“Now we have to spend a couple thousand dollars to lock the paint up and have somebody standing there to unlock it and check IDs. And it’s not going to stop the problem. If somebody wants spray paint, they’re going to get it.”

The city of Los Angeles adopted a similar measure last year, and later successfully defended a paint store owner’s lawsuit challenging it.

Since then, other cities in Southern California have adopted or begun considering restrictions on the sale of spray paint, as part of an effort to deter graffiti regionwide.