Ruling on Taggers

The damage caused by graffiti is understated in “Ruling Limits Weapons Against Taggers” (Dec. 26), about a California court’s reversal of the practice by prosecutors to aggregate graffiti misdemeanors into a felony. For example, it is reported that the MTA spends more than $1 million a year in graffiti removal. Even with this, the buses are never clean of graffiti. There is graffiti on the seats and on the windows. Graffiti on the seats gets on people’s clothing, and graffiti on the windows detracts from the enjoyment of the view.

We have a challenge in reducing traffic congestion. The challenge is exacerbated because the state Legislature and the courts will not give us the tools to combat graffiti effectively. It is fair for prosecutors to commission a study, determine how many people do not ride the bus because of the poor appearance of buses and then factor the costs of losing bus riders into the costs of undoing damage from graffiti.

VAN AJEMIAN

Montebello