Should the Parents of Underage Graffiti Vandals Pay the Costs of Removal?

Oakland's municipal code lacks penalties for graffiti vandalism, which is currently classified as an infraction, along the lines of making an illegal U-turn or rolling through a stop sign.

But City Councilwoman Nancy Nadel and City Attorney Barbara Parker have introduced an ordinance that would make tagging a misdemeanor and establish a set of stiffer penalties, including requiring the vandals to pay for the cost of grafitti removal and attorney fees. If the vandals are minors, their parents could be liable under the new ordinance. 

The ordinance also gives property owners 10 days to remove grafitti after notice. 

Here's what Nadel and Parker wrote about the problem of graffiti in Oakland: 

Oakland has a severe problem with graffifi being applied to public and private property.It is a city-wide problem. Not only does it detract from the beauty and livability of our city, but it breeds disrespect for our neighborhoods, encourages more graffifi and other forms of blight and vandalism, and disrespect for the law generally. Graffiti also negatively impacts Oakland's business environment. As Oakland struggles to recover economically, graffiti hampers recovery by discouraging businesses from opening or remaining in Oakland. Many property owners and businesses tire of the cost of repeatedly removing graffiti from their properties.

Has your property been vandalized with graffiti? How much did it cost to remove? 

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