Graffiti Deserves Stiffer Fines

I congratulate you on the fine article on Palmdale residents clamoring for stiffer fines for graffiti (“Residents Urge Stiffer Graffiti Laws,” Times Valley Edition, Jan. 16).

Palmdale is not alone in this need. Graffiti, horrible and often vulgar junk, is put everywhere, even to the very top of freeway signs, obliterating them.

Our young hooligans need bold and powerful discipline. This should start at home. Why should city government have to pay for the devastation of walls, outer surfaces, street and highway signs, business and personal property, including United States mail boxes?

Fines paid by parents are no punishment for the offenders. These young characters should be rounded up, made to work and pay for the materials to repair their misdeeds. Rehabilitation and progress meetings should be held every four to six weeks with parents or guardians in attendance and a fine for no-shows.

Perhaps California Penal Code 594 should be rewritten. The law states: “If the amount of defacement, damage or destruction is $5,000 or more, vandalism is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison or county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than $10,000 or both that fine and imprisonment.”

I don’t understand why damage and destruction has to reach $5,000 before it’s called vandalism. When I had to paint my garage door twice in one week, $100 each time, it wasn’t fun.

With the many Army, Navy and Air Force bases closing, couldn’t the state of California utilize these structures to house and rehabilitate these offenders?

MARY H. FENTON

North Hollywood