San Luis AZ Battles Graffiti Vandalism
The town of San Luis has a big graffiti problem. One only needs to look around to see evidence of it. According to this article from the Yuma Sun, the San Luis city council is ready to address the problem and attempt to prevent future growths.
City Manager Jeff Philpot estimates the damage done to stop signs alone is costing the city around $20,000 in replacement costs per year. This is an astronomical amount and only represents a small portion of the problem.
The city council is looking to change the city ordinance already in place and make fines steeper. They also want to make a rewards system that encourages community members to report graffiti offenses. This program would offer rewards ranging from $10 to $500.
Graffiti is a serious problem that has the potential to damage the reputation of a community. Regardless of what the graffiti says or if it is gang related, the mere presences of it makes a neighborhood seem more high risk.
State laws involving graffiti typically fall under the offense of Criminal Damage. The penalty faced for this crime is dependent on the damage done. The value of the damage is calculated by determining repair or replacement costs.
For instance, if you are accused of committing an act of graffiti that requires the replacement of a $65 stop sign, you may only be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor. Class 2 misdemeanors can carry a few months in jail but are more often punished by fines. However, if you commit an offense that does more than $250 in damage, you can face felony charges.
Some towns also have local ordinances that govern penalties for graffiti done within city limits. To know for sure what kind of time and fines you may be facing, a consultation with an experienced attorney is necessary.
If you have been charged with any criminal damage offense, contact me today to discuss your case.
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