City will sue graffiti vandals - or their parents

The Standard
Local News - Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Updated @ 1:03:04 AM

By MARLENE BERGSMA

Standard Staff



An ambitious new plan to crack down on graffiti will put St. Catharines on the map and put the city’s hands in parents’ pockets, says a city councillor behind the new get-tough policy.

The city will sue parents of graffiti vandals who are caught tagging city property, in an attempt to rid the city of the visual blight, councillors decided Monday night.

And the city will also spend up to $65,000 next year removing graffiti from private property.

“This is the most pro-active stance this city has ever taken and it will put us on the map as not tolerating graffiti in St.
Catharines,” said St. Andrew’s Coun. Andrew Gill, the city’s representative on the anti-graffiti committee.

The city will sue convicted graffiti vandals who are over the age of 18, or, if they are under 18, will sue their parents under the Parental Responsibility Act to pay for the damage they have caused, councillors decided.

Other property owners targeted by vandals should also sue if they can, said St. Patrick’s Coun. Mark Elliott.

“This sends a message that if you do get caught applying graffiti you will have to pay for it,” said St. George’s Coun. Greg Washuta.

And, in an effort to act quickly to rid the city of the visual blight, the city will hire a private contractor to remove graffiti from private homes and businesses. Property owners will have to agree to have the graffiti removed and pay half the cost.

Some cities charge property owners who don’t remove graffiti within a specified time period, but Gill said the committee doesn’t want to “re-victimize the victims.”

Instead, people can always report old graffiti under the city’s property standards bylaw, said city solicitor Annette Poulin, and the order to remove it can be registered on title.

Councillors also passed a resolution calling on the federal government to amend the criminal code to make possession of spray paint used for mischief a criminal offence, and to call on the provincial government to make the sale of spray paint to anyone under 18 illegal. The motion will be forwarded to other cities in Ontario for their endorsement.

“This will put St. Catharines on the map as one of the national leaders in the fight against graffiti,” Gill said.

Councillors also asked the anti-graffiti committee to consider offering rewards to people who snitch on graffiti vandals.