City Council vs Taggers (San Antonio, Van: sale, sex offenders, how much)

[sapphire]

City Council wants to get tougher with taggers (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/City_Council_wants_to_get_tougher_with_taggers.htm l - broken link)

This is encouraging. I think some others on here would have better ideas for dealing with these punks, but at least they're bringing attention to the epidemic.

[gwrober]

Good. So far, I'm for this! It's getting worse everywhere...

[SnappyBob]

Jail time is good. Taking away their drivers license is also good. First you have to catch and convict them. Where is the extra tax on aerosol cans going to go? Aren't they already supposed to keep them under lock and key? How much spray paint is stolen rather than purchased?

[Primo]

If they really want to get serious about it....why don't they do the same with spraypaint as they did with Fireworks, and other cities have done with trans-fat. Ban the sale of spraypaint within city limits! While it wouldn't stop the problem completely........it sure would it make it more difficult for these little punks to get their hands on it. Or put a huge tax on it like ciggerettes.

I actually use spay paint from time to time on some home improvement projects, but if it reduced the graffiti around town I totally wouldn't mind having to drive outside the city limits to get spraypaint.

[SATX56]

Jail time and suspending all driving privileges is great!! Don't see a need for a tax on aerosol cans though! Yes, they're supposed to be locked up. I'm sure a lot of the kids tell mom or dad they want to paint their bike etc. Many probably steal their paint! Better way to deal with these little vandals......
"Tar and Feathers"

[gwrober]

Originally Posted by Primo

If they really want to get serious about it....why don't they do the same with spraypaint as they did with Fireworks, and other cities have done with trans-fat. Ban the sale of spraypaint within city limits! While it wouldn't stop the problem completely........it sure would it make it more difficult for these little punks to get their hands on it. Or put a huge tax on it like ciggerettes.

I actually use spay paint from time to time on some home improvement projects, but if it reduced the graffiti around town I totally wouldn't mind having to drive outside the city limits to get spraypaint.

But what if you live outside the city limits, and the walmarts within 5 miles in 3-4 directions all sell spray paint?

[wCat]

I'm glad they are addressing this more seriously too.

I also question the effectiveness of this part:

The council's get-tough wish list also includes a surtax on the purchase of aerosol spray paint cans; a list of convicted taggers — much like the one required for registered sex offenders — and a sliding schedule that ties fines to the amount of monetary damage caused.

It is far too easy for this vandals to get OLDER punks to buy or steal spray paint. Driving out of county is not going to stop them. Imposing a surtax or moving spray paint out of county is only punishing the people who legitimately USE this product for what it's intended for. It's expensive enough as it is. The criminals are the issue here...not the paint. I use spray paint in my business a lot. I don't have the time or resources to drive out of county to purchase spray paint or incur any extra cost. I just have to pass that on to my clients, which is also unfair.

I'm not sure this would be feasible, but as a consumer of more than a few cans of spray paint, I wouldn't mind having a "permit" to purchase spray paint. Of course this would be a hardship on the average consumer that wants to paint their patio furniture. And just like "gun permits"....those that acquire it illegally will most likely still do that.

Or possibly something similar to what they now do with pharmaceuticals that contain sudefed. You have to show your license and sign a form that is in addition to your purchase. It's logged in a database and prevents abusers from going store to store to collect enough for their "meth" labs. It's an inconvenience, but I understand and support the effort to at least reduce the availability.

Spray paint was initially locked up to deter "huffing" paint to get high. I'm not sure it dented the graffiti problem.

[quest51210]

if you think they buy their paint from a rack at home depot, lowes, or hobby lobby you may not be qualified to fight the issue. google, "montana paint"

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by quest51210

if you think they buy their paint from a rack at home depot, lowes, or hobby lobby you may not be qualified to fight the issue. google, "montana paint"

No one really cares where they get it. We care where they spray it. It's really irrelevant what brand, what store, what color, heat-resistant, flourescent, you get the idea. We just don't want it all over our neighborhoods.

The kid that messed up South San is facing a felony!
Police Use Handwriting Samples to Catch Graffiti Vandal | WOAI.COM: San Antonio News

Don't read the ads on that link to WOAI!!

[yosoyway]

Once again, punishing the victims and the innocent.

Taxing spray paint is not a good solution. Punishing parents, yes. Community service for parents, yes. Fines for parents, yes.

Moderator cut: spanish