Graffiti is a Crime

Property owners who have their properties vandalized by graffiti are victims of crime. The Halifax Regional Police’s proposal for a graffiti by-law that re-victimizes property owners by having the cost of graffiti removal placed on their tax bill, and at the same time threatening them with fines or prosecution for noncompliance, is outrageous.

As reported on April 17, 2006 in the Chronicle Herald's Proposed Graffiti By-law Would Leave Mark, Chief Beazley is correct when he states that, “graffiti is a crime that negatively impacts citizens’ sense of safety.” As such, those who cause property damage through tagging and “spraying pieces” should be held legally responsible for their crimes and sentenced to pay restitution to repair damage to properties. In addition to focusing on prosecuting the perpetrators of graffiti who diminish our sense of safe community, the Police should provide property owners education and heightened awareness about preventative measures to combat graffiti such as increased lighting, musical distraction and landscape architecture measures.

To focus on the victims’ pocketbooks to fight the crime of graffiti is a backwards solution.