Bernard Parks wants to paint target on taggers' parents in Los Angeles
He plans to introduce an ordinance similar to a law recently approved by Los Angeles County supervisors authorizing civil damages for parents of children who commit graffiti vandalism.
Parents of children who commit graffiti vandalism in Los Angeles could be held liable for civil damages under a plan proposed today by City Councilman Bernard C. Parks.
The proposal is very similar to a law recently approved by Los Angeles County supervisors intended to shake up parents and guardians either unaware or unconcerned by their children's tagging.
Supervisor Gloria Molina, who sponsored the county law, accompanied Parks at a news conference today, where he announced his intent to introduce a version of the law for the City of Los Angeles.
"We do want to mirror it almost identically to what the county has done," said Shawn Parker, a spokeswoman for Parks. Parks and Eric Garcetti, who is co-sponsoring the ordinance, plan to introduce the motion Friday, she said. The proposed ordinance must then be reviewed by the city attorney before it can be considered by the council.
Parks, a former Los Angeles police chief who was elected to the City Council in 2003, is running against Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas for the Board of Supervisors seat being vacated by Yvonne B. Burke.
The county ordinance, which takes effect later this month, will require violators to pay fines up to $1,000, and they could have liens issued against their property. When warranted, the measure also would allow authorities to seek felony vandalism charges in court.
Los Angeles County spent nearly $30 million last year to remove graffiti, records show. Caltrans last year spent about $5 million on graffiti removal in Los Angeles and Ventura counties alone.
But Molina says that actual property damage to businesses, public buildings and infrastructure is far higher and points out that tagging has led to violence, including murder.
Local efforts to curtail graffiti come as the state also has taken steps to punish people convicted of tagging.
In July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2609 into law, requiring a person convicted of tagging to clean up the graffiti he or she created. The law, introduced by Assemblyman Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles), requires cleanup be part of any sentence, unless the judge determines that it would be dangerous. In addition, it makes it possible for the judge to require that the offender keep the damaged property free of graffiti for up to a year.
Amanda.covarrubias@latimes.com
