FULLERTON : Council Considers Anti-Graffiti Law

The city is preparing to get tough on graffiti vandals.

Acting Police Chief Lee DeVore last week outlined for the City Council and nearly 200 residents an anti-graffiti ordinance that would create stiff fines for vandalism and make parents responsible for damage caused by children under 18.

However, the council held off on approving it after residents suggested improvements. City Attorney R.K. Fox said a revised ordinance will be considered at the council’s Feb. 16 meeting.

The ordinance would ban possession of spray paint, markers or sticky labels at public places, such as pools, parks or playgrounds. Residents would be required to remove graffiti from their property within seven days.

City officials have said the seven-day rule is for people who refuse to clean up their property. Robert Savage, the director of maintenance services, said the city will continue to remove graffiti from private homes and businesses.

Councilman Don Bankhead said the ordinance will be introduced as an “urgency” item at the next meeting and will become law as soon as it is approved.

Scores of residents lined up at the last council meeting to express their anger at “taggers,” the young graffiti artists who have sprayed their names throughout the city. “We will not surrender our community to thugs and vandals,” resident Jim Williams told the council. He was loudly applauded.

“I refuse to allow some little criminal punk to enjoy seeing his name on a wall where I live,” said another resident, Nikki Walloch. She suggested that the city publish in newspapers the names of parents whose children are convicted of vandalism.

City Manager James L. Armstrong said residents called him after the meeting and offered to help in the fight against graffiti. “People care about the community, and these kids are trashing it,” Armstrong said.