Law Forces Ojai Shops to Lock Up Spray Paint

Spray paint, indelible markers and other instruments of graffiti will have to be locked away from consumers inside the boundaries of Ojai, the City Council has ruled unanimously.

An amended graffiti ordinance will require merchants selling products that could be used to deface property to store the items in locked display cabinets or behind counters.

No one spoke at a public hearing held Tuesday night before the council vote, Mayor Steven Olsen said.

“I would have expected businesses maybe to resist because of the cost, but I know they don’t like graffiti,” Olsen said.

“Most of our members have already taken steps against spray cans and things,” said Margaret Westrom, executive director of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. “They have not and do not sell spray paint to minors even before that became popular.”

Most of the graffiti in Ojai is cleaned up within days of its appearance by a volunteer group calling itself Group Against Graffiti, city officials said.

In a separate action at Tuesday’s meeting of the Ojai City Council, the city declared a 1981 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck surplus property and promptly donated it to the Group Against Graffiti.

“They will be able to use that to haul their paint and supplies,” Councilwoman Nina Shelley said.

The changes to the graffiti ordinance approved by the council take effect in 30 days.