The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unveiled a plan today to fine graffiti taggers for the damage they cause. The Board will take a final vote on the ordinance next week. If approved, it would take effect in 30 days.

Supervisor Gloria Molina and Supervisor Don Knabe introduced a motion with the idea last year ago after a Pico Rivera grandmother was killed on August 10, 2007, when she tried to stop a graffiti vandal from defacing a wall near her home.

The average taxpayer cost to catch a tagger is $665, and the average cost of removing or painting over graffiti is $552 per incident. Los Angeles County spends over $30 million per year in graffiti cleanup costs in the unincorporated areas.

Graffiti is a huge problem in many of our neighborhoods and communities, and it is reducing the quality of life, property values, business growth and development in these areas, said Supervisor Knabe. It is my hope that this new plan teaches young offenders about accountability, responsibility, and about the consequences of their actions.