New LA anti-tagging law targets parents

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a measure that will allow officials to hold taggers and their parents liable for damages.

The Los Angeles Times reported the plan aimed at targeting graffiti artists passed the county board unanimously. The new law goes into effect in 30 days.

Supervisor Gloria Molina, who introduced the ordinance, said the measure provides authorities with another tool to combat neighborhood blight.

Last year, Los Angeles County spent nearly $30 million to clean up graffiti, the newspaper reported.

In addition to property value loss, Molina said tagging also had led to violence..

Robert Whitehead, for instance, was shot to death in 2006 after challenging gang members he caught crossing out another gang's graffiti.