Bohac’s “Graffiti Accountability Act” Passes Texas Senate–Now Heads to Governor

AUSTIN - Today, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 2151, an anti-graffiti measure aimed at discouraging would-be offenders from engaging in vandalism. The bill gives local governments a powerful tool to help clean-up property damage. Authored by State Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston), the “Graffiti Accountability Act of 2007” now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The bill requires full restitution by offenders who vandalize public or private property with graffiti. Upon conviction, a juvenile or adult offender will be ordered to personally fix the damage, reimburse the property owner or political subdivision to clean it up, or pay to replace the damaged property if it cannot be fixed. If an offender or an offender’s parents are unable to pay, the court could assign to the delinquent an appropriate amount of community service equal to the damage.

“This is all about holding graffiti offenders accountable for their actions,” said Bohac. “It’s a common-sense approach that I hope will make a serious impact on erasing this public nuisance from our streets and neighborhoods.”

In addition to mandating restitution, HB 2151 raises the juvenile delinquency prevention and graffiti eradication fee that offenders are ordered to pay to the court from $5 to $50. The fee is used by counties for further graffiti eradication and now, under HB 2151, to provide educational materials to public schools to inform students of the penalties under the bill for graffiti and vandalism.

“Graffiti offenders need to learn that this is not fun and games and that graffiti and ‘tagging’ have serious consequences they cannot afford,” added Bohac. “The Graffiti Accountability Act is going to force them to clean up their act.”

Bohac hopes school districts across the state will make a strong effort to inform their students about the new anti-graffiti measures and the repercussions for engaging in vandalism.

”Graffiti not only damages property but hurts the entire community, whether through creating a public eyesore or perpetuating gang activity and crime,” concluded Bohac. “This is a major step toward cleaning up our neighborhoods and will send a clear message to vandals that if you tag it, you buy it.”