America the Messy Yard Police State

A government issued photo ID to buy a magic marker????

Children with writing instruments are assumed to be criminals???

  These silly laws will require people to have a government issued photo ID to by a magic marker or other stuff that could be used to make graffiti or violated Phoenix's "messy yard" laws.

This also sounds like a violation of the First Amendment. Requiring a government issued photo ID to purchase something that can be used for writing??

Also children who are in possession of any writting or marking instrument will be assumed guilty of creating graffiti? That is an insane police state!!!

Source

Phoenix group targets graffiti laws, seeks harsher penalties

By Alia Beard Rau The Republic | azcentral.com

Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:54 PM

As Arizona cities, lobbyists, unions and activist groups firm up their legislative goals for 2013, a group of Phoenix residents is looking for a little help with graffiti.

Phoenix’s Anti-Graffiti Task Force hopes the Legislature, which convenes Monday, will consider a proposal that includes additional penalties for offenders and new requirements for stores that sell graffiti materials.

Under current state law, it is considered criminal damage to inscribe a message, slogan, sign or symbol on any public or private building, structure or surface, except for the ground, without the owner’s permission. The penalties vary: Damage of $250 or less is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by fines and up to four months in jail; damage of $10,000 or more is a Class 4 felony punishable by fines and up to three years in prison. There are tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

State law allows counties to adopt and enforce their own ordinances related to the prevention and removal of graffiti. It gives counties limited ability to restrict the way stores display graffiti implements.

Task force member and Phoenix resident Ginnie Ann Sumner said this is the first time the task force has worked on possible legislation. Phoenix Councilmen Michael Nowakowski and Tom Simplot co-chair the task force, which launched in 2011.

The Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department [i.e. - the Phoenix Messy Yard Police] is hosting Graffiti Free Phoenix: Day at the Legislature at the state Capitol today and is asking residents to attend and show their support for anti-graffiti legislation. City staff will train participants in how to get involved in the legislative process.

“The city estimates that it costs, with SRP, APS and city departments, $6 million a year to paint out graffiti. And police will tell you that graffiti is a gateway to other crimes,” Sumner, a former teacher, said. “What we’re interested in doing is helping those who get involved in graffiti learn that there are consequences for their actions.”

The task force is seeking legislation that includes:

Requiring juveniles convicted of a graffiti crime to pay for damages and perform community service.

Suspending a convicted juvenile’s driver’s license. [what does driving have to do with graffiti or vise versa???]

Revoking a convicted adult’s license.

Making it a crime to sell or give a graffiti implement such as spray paint or an etching tool to a juvenile.

Making it a crime for a juvenile to possess a graffiti implement in most situations. [So kids with magic markers or paint can's will be assumed to be criminals???]

Requiring stores to keep graffiti implements under lock and key.

Setting up procedures to require adults to show ID when buying a graffiti implement.

Sumner said the goal of legislation is to solve the city’s graffiti problem and address the social concerns that surround the crime.

“We are responsible for our social health, and we need to do something to help both our juveniles and our adults, rather than just painting over the problem,” she said.

City staff said graffiti has not increased over the past year, but is a consistent problem. Sumner said the problem in her Pierce Unified neighborhood in east Phoenix varies depending on the time of year, how warm it is at night and whether school is in session. But she said her husband, and many other Phoenix volunteers, go out almost daily to help city staff remove graffiti.

The task force does not yet have a legislative sponsor for its graffiti proposal, but Phoenix Government Relations Director Karen Peters said she’s optimistic they’ll have one soon. Phoenix is also working with other cities and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns on the effort.

She said city staff has created a draft bill.

“We’re talking with potential sponsors,” Peters said.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, has for years unsuccessfully introduced bills attempting to increase penalties and restrictions related to graffiti. Peters said he is one of the lawmakers they are talking to.

Peters said this resident-based effort to seek legislative help to solve the city’s graffiti problem is unique. Once there is a legislative sponsor and a bill number, Peters said they will make a significant push for even more public support.

“I think this level of community engagement will be vital to our success,” she said.

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Graffiti Free Phoenix Day

The Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department is hosting Graffiti Free Phoenix: Day at the Arizona Legislature from 9-11 a.m. today at the Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St. Residents are encouraged to attend and sign up in support of toughening state graffiti laws.

 
 

America the Messy Yard Police State