Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/LakeElsinore/html/LakeElsinore09/LakeElsinore0952.html
Timestamp: 2020-02-22 17:08:17
Document Index: 465127490

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 8', '§ 9']

Chapter 9.52 GRAFFITI PREVENTION AND ABATEMENT
9.52.030 Prohibition.
9.52.040 Accessibility of aerosol paint containers – Sale of graffiti implements – Penalties.
9.52.050 Possession prohibited.
9.52.060 Public nuisance – Removal of graffiti – Standards for removal.
9.52.070 Summary abatement by City.
9.52.080 Measures to ease removal or prevent graffiti.
9.52.090 Reward.
9.52.100 Community education – Coordination with utility providers.
9.52.110 Parental and minor liability.
9.52.120 Determination of liability.
9.52.130 Penalties.
Prior legislation: Ords. 950 and 1071.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare of residents and property within the City of Lake Elsinore by providing a program for the prevention and removal of graffiti. The increase of graffiti on both public and private buildings, structures and places is creating a condition of blight within the City which results in a deterioration of property and business values for surrounding properties, all to the detriment of the City. The City Council finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious and a public nuisance which must be abated so as to avoid the detrimental impact of such graffiti on the City, and to prevent the further spread of graffiti. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
“Abate” or “abatement” means the elimination, removal or termination of graffiti from public or private property with the City’s boundaries.
“Aerosol paint container” means any container, regardless of the material from which it is made, which is adapted or made for the purpose of spraying paint or other substances capable of defacing property.
“City Manager” means the City Manager of the City of Lake Elsinore, or his/her designee.
“Cost of removal” means any cost incurred by the City for removal, elimination, or termination of graffiti from public or private property.
“Deface,” “defaces” or “defacing” means intentionally altering the physical shape or physical appearance of property by inscription, words, figures, signs, or design without prior written permission of the owner.
“Expenses of abatement” means all costs incurred by the City related to abatement of graffiti conditions, including, without limitation, the costs of removal, court costs, attorneys’ fees, administrative costs, and any law enforcement costs relating to the identification and/or apprehension of a person who defaces property with graffiti or who fails to remove graffiti from property after being ordered to do so.
“Graffiti” means any inscription, word, figure, or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on any surface, without the express permission of the owner’s of such surface, regardless of the nature of the material of which the surface is composed.
“Graffiti implement” means any item capable of marking a surface to create graffiti including, but not limited to, aerosol paint containers, dye containers, paint sticks, felt-tip markers or marking pens, marking instruments, drill bits, grinding stones, scribers, glass cutters or etching tools or other instruments capable of scarring glass, metal, concrete or wood.
“Owner” means any person or entity that is the owner of real or personal property that has been defaced, or who has primary responsibility for control over the property, or who has primary responsibility for maintenance and repair of the property, and shall include any person owning, leasing, renting, occupying, managing, or having charge of any property or structure.
“Person(s)” means a natural person(s).
“Public view” means any public or private area that is accessed from a public roadway, sidewalk or common area and is open to view by persons from such public roadway, sidewalk or common area.
“Responsible adult” means a parent, legal guardian, or other person over the age of 18 years who is charged with legal responsibility and/or supervision of a minor. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. No person shall place graffiti on any public or privately owned property, including natural and manmade objects, within the City.
B. Pursuant to Government Code Section 38772, any person who places graffiti on any public or privately owned property, including natural and manmade objects within the City, shall be personally liable for any and all costs incurred in connection with the removal of any graffiti caused by that person, including all abatement costs, attorney’s fees, court costs, removal costs, costs of repair and/or replacement, and the law enforcement costs incurred by the City in identifying and apprehending the person. Such liability shall be a personal obligation and shall constitute a lien or special assessment on property owned by such person pursuant to Chapter 8.18 LEMC. The City is authorized to initiate a legal action to enforce this section, or to recover these costs by any other means provided by law. Disposition of a criminal prosecution relating to placement of graffiti does not preclude the City from seeking full cost recovery as provided herein. [Ord. 1333 § 5, 2015; Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. Access. No person or business engaged in a commercial enterprise shall display for sale, trade or exchange to the public any aerosol paint containers except in an area from which access by the public is securely precluded without employee assistance. Acceptable methods for displaying aerosol paint containers for sale shall be by containment in: (1) a completely enclosed cabinet or other storage device which shall, at all times except during access by authorized representatives, remain securely locked; or (2) an enclosed area behind a sales or service counter from which the public is precluded from entry. Nothing in this chapter shall relieve such person or business entity from complying at all times with the requirements of California Penal Code Section 594.1(c) by posting signs as described therein.
B. Storage Requirements. No person or business engaged in the business of selling, providing or trading aerosol paint containers shall store such containers in an area accessible to the public.
C. Any person or business engaged in the retail sale of aerosol paint containers must display at a conspicuous location a legible sign measuring not less than 12 inches by 12 inches with letters at least one-half inch in height which states:
It is unlawful for any person to sell or give to any individual under the age of 18 years any implement or other device capable of being used to deface property. Any person who maliciously defaces real property is guilty of vandalism which is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person or business to sell, exchange, give, or loan, or cause or permit to be sold, exchanged, given, or loaned, any graffiti implements to a minor, unless such minor is in the presence of the minor’s responsible adult.
E. It shall be unlawful for a minor to purchase or otherwise obtain any graffiti implements unless such minor is in the presence of the minor’s responsible adult.
F. Any person or business offering aerosol paint containers for sale to the public shall keep a log of the name, address and driver’s license number of any person purchasing three or more aerosol paint containers.
G. Any business violating this section shall be subject to suspension, revocation or nonrenewal of its City business license, in addition to any other penalties provided by this code. [Ord. 1333 § 6, 2015; Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any graffiti implement for the purpose of defacing any public or private property, without the express consent of the owner of such property.
B. It shall be unlawful for a minor to possess any graffiti implement on any public highway, street, alley, or way, or in any automobile, vehicle or other conveyance, or while in any public park, playground or other public facility.
C. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to minors that are transporting or using graffiti implements for lawful purposes while under the supervision of the minor’s responsible adult, instructor or employer. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. In the event the owner of private property upon which graffiti has been placed declines to consent to removal by the City as provided herein, or fails to remove the graffiti within three days after service of a notice to remove the graffiti, the owner shall be subject to the administrative citation process set forth in Chapter 1.20 LEMC.
B. The City Council does hereby find that graffiti is a public nuisance. In the event the owner of private property upon which graffiti has been placed declines to consent to removal by the City as provided herein, or fails to remove the graffiti within three days after service of a notice to remove graffiti, the affected property shall be subject to the nuisance abatement process set forth in Chapter 8.18 LEMC.
C. Whenever the City Manager determines that graffiti is located within the public view, the City Manager is authorized to seek the consent of the owner to cause the graffiti to be removed by City forces or private contract. Where the graffiti is on a private property, unless summary abatement is authorized under LEMC 9.52.070, entry onto the private property for removal of the graffiti may be authorized by securing the consent of the owner, or upon issuance of an abatement warrant by a court of competent jurisdiction under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1822.50 et seq.
D. Graffiti shall be removed or completely covered in a manner that renders it inconspicuous. When graffiti is painted out, the color used to paint it out shall match the original color of the surface, or the entire surface shall be repainted with a new color that is aesthetically compatible with existing colors and architecture. The removal shall not leave shadows and shall not follow the pattern of the graffiti such that letters or similar shapes remain apparent on the surface after graffiti markings have been removed. If the area is heavily covered with graffiti, the entire surface shall be repainted.
E. The City Manager may waive the costs associated with removing the graffiti provided the owner agrees to assign his/her victim’s rights to the City so the City may seek restitution in accordance with LEMC 9.52.110 and/or California Penal Code Section 594. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
The Police Chief is hereby authorized to summarily abate gang-related graffiti. The abatement may be undertaken by City staff, or by outside contractors. Gang-related graffiti shall be defined as graffiti that is placed on private or public property by a person reasonably believed by the City’s Police Department or other local law enforcement agency to be a member of, or affiliated with, a criminal street gang, as that term is defined in California Penal Code Section 186.22. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. Land Use Entitlement Conditions. In approving subdivision maps, conditional use permits, variances, building permits, or other similar land use entitlement or development or design applications, the City may impose one or all of the following conditions, or other similar or related conditions:
1. Use of anti-graffiti materials on surfaces exposed to public view of a type and nature that is acceptable to the City Manager.
2. Use of landscaping to screen or provide a barrier to surfaces that may be prone to graffiti.
3. Right of access by the City to remove graffiti.
4. Applicants, permittees, and all successors in interest shall provide the City with sufficient matching paint and/or anti-graffiti material on demand for use in painting over or removal of graffiti.
5. Applicants, permittees, and all persons applying for subdivision maps shall, as part of any conditions, covenants and restrictions, covenant that the owners of the lots shall immediately remove any graffiti.
B. Encroachment Permit Conditions. All encroachment permits issued by the City may, among other things, be conditioned on the following:
2. Use of landscaping to screen or provide a barrier to the encroaching object.
3. The right of the City to remove the graffiti or to paint the encroaching object or structure.
4. Permittee shall provide the City with sufficient matching paint and/or anti-graffiti material on demand for use in painting over or removal of graffiti on the encroaching object or structure.
5. Permittee shall immediately remove all graffiti. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 36069.5, the City offers a reward of $1,000 per incident for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for violation of California Penal Code Section 594 within the City.
B. In the event of multiple contributors of information leading to such arrest and conviction, the City may divide the reward equally among the contributors.
C. A claim for reward under this section shall be filed with the City Clerk. The City Manager shall verify the accuracy of all claims and report to the City Council. A claim shall be awarded only after City Council approval of the City Manager’s report. Each claim shall:
1. Specifically identify the date, location and kind of property damaged or destroyed;
3. Identify the court rendering the conviction and the date of the conviction.
D. The City Manager shall establish a dedicated “graffiti hotline” for citizens to utilize to report graffiti. Such graffiti hotline number shall be publicized in appropriate City publications directed at both City employees and the public. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
A. The City Manager, in coordination with the school district, civic organizations and the public, may conduct regular programs to provide community education regarding the prevention of graffiti, available rewards, and the telephone number of the graffiti hotline.
B. The City Manager shall coordinate with local providers of public utilities to expeditiously remove graffiti from public utility boxes, poles and other physical utility structures. [Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1714.1(b) and Government Code Section 38772, any parent or legal guardian having custody or control of a minor who places graffiti on any public or privately owned property within the City shall be jointly and severally liable with such minor for any and all costs incurred in connection with the removal of any graffiti caused by the minor, including but not limited to: all abatement costs, attorney’s fees, court costs, removal costs, costs of repair and/or replacement and law enforcement costs incurred by the City in identifying and apprehending the minor. The liability of each parent or guardian shall not exceed the amount set by the California Judicial Council in accordance with California Civil Code Section 1714.1(c). Such liability shall be a personal obligation of each parent or guardian and shall constitute a lien or special assessment on property owned by each parent or guardian. The City is authorized to initiate legal action to enforce this section, or to recover these costs by any other means provided by law. Disposition of a criminal prosecution relating to placement of graffiti does not preclude the City from seeking full cost recovery as provided herein. [Ord. 1333 § 7, 2015; Ord. 1215 § 1, 2007].
Liability of a minor or any other person for placement of graffiti may be determined by any confession or admission, or any guilty plea, nolo contendere plea, or conviction regarding any violation of the Penal Code relating to graffiti or any other Federal, State or local graffiti law relating to graffiti. [Ord. 1333 § 8, 2015].
A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter, or failing to comply with any of its requirements, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with LEMC 1.16.010. It shall constitute a separate offense for each and every day or any portion thereof during which any violation of this chapter is committed, continued, maintained or permitted.
B. Upon the entry of a second or subsequent civil or criminal judgment within a two-year period finding an owner of property, minor or other person is responsible for a condition that may be abated in accordance with this chapter, the City may request the court order treble damages pursuant to Government Code Section 38773.7.
C. Any person who places graffiti on any public or privately owned property, including natural and manmade objects within the City, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation. The civil penalty prescribed may be sought in addition to any other remedy. The City is authorized to seek recovery by any means authorized by law. The parent or legal guardian having custody and control of the minor offender shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor.
D. Notwithstanding the penalties set forth in this section, any person who defaces property with graffiti implement is guilty of vandalism, pursuant to Section 594 of the California Penal Code, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by imprisonment in the State prison or in a County jail for a period not to exceed one year or by a fine of $5,000, but no more than $50,000 depending upon the severity and the amount of the defacement or by both such fine and imprisonment.
E. The remedies provided in this chapter are intended to be cumulative. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the City from commencing a civil, criminal or administrative proceeding to abate a public nuisance or obtain cost recovery as provided herein, from pursuing any other means available to it under provisions of applicable ordinances or State law, in addition to or as alternatives to the proceedings set forth herein. [Ord. 1333 § 9, 2015].