Bohac Files Criminal Justice Measures Designed to Protect Community

AUSTIN–Continuing his efforts to reduce crime and better protect Texas communities, state Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) has filed two bills that target gang graffiti and burglary of motor vehicles. The bills take a common sense approach toward reducing crime and ultimately improving quality of life.

“If we ‘reward’ bad behavior with weak laws, we get more bad behavior,” Bohac said. “On the other hand, if we penalize bad behavior with stronger laws, we will get less crime. My bills target two specific crimes that are of concern to my district, and many communities across Texas.”

In 2006, the Texas Department of Public Safety spent approximately $2.4 million of taxpayer dollars to replace vandalized signs, and the City of Houston spent approximately $2.25 million to replace signs and remove graffiti, most of which was gang related.

During the last legislative session, Governor Rick Perry signed into law Bohac’s House Bill 2151, known as the Graffiti Accountability Act of 2007. The bill targeted delinquents who “tag” public traffic control devices, street signs and private property, and required full restitution by the offender. The bill also increased funding for graffiti abatement and preventive education through increased fines paid by the offenders. “Graffiti is one of the greatest causes of blight in our neighborhoods and cities, and we need to take it seriously,” Bohac said. “Allowing graffiti in a community invites more graffiti. We must remain vigilant regarding tagging.”

This year, Bohac has filed House Bill 3342, which amends and strengthens the Graffiti Accountability Act of 2007 by significantly increasing penalties for repeat offenders.

Those considered “serial taggers” and promoters of gang activity will face escalating penalties under this bill. The bill also mandates that the offender’s driver’s license be suspended upon a second conviction. Furthermore, the bill adds language to the “Organized Crime” section 71.02 of the Penal Code underscoring that a person caught promoting gangs by tagging will face increased punishment.

“This approach addresses gang violence by linking it to organized crime as well as the graffiti problem in general,” Bohac said. “Eliminating graffiti in our community is important to our quality of life and safety. Those who commit this act do not care about the property owners they affect or the damage done to the community.”

In addition to graffiti, auto burglaries have been on the rise in Texas since the early 1990s, when the penalty for the crime was reduced from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor. Annually, Texans lose more than $200 million in reported property to this very personal crime.

During the last legislative session, Bohac co-authored House Bill 1887, which cracked down on burglary of motor vehicles and recriminalized the act. The bill required six months in jail for a second offense. The crime became a state felony on the third offense, punishable by a maximum of two years in a state jail. Prior to this bill, there was no mandatory jail time.

This legislative session, Bohac has filed House Bill 3344, which further strengthens the penalties. This bill will guarantee that those who steal a vehicle or the contents of a vehicle will go to jail the first time they are caught.

“Stealing a vehicle or its contents is one of the most personal crimes a person can commit,” Bohac said. “As a victim of this crime myself, I know the heartache that goes along with seeing a pile of broken glass where your vehicle was once parked. And if we want to crack down on this crime, we must enhance the penalty.”

Bohac has been recognized by the chiefs of six major cities in Texas, including Houston, Dallas and Austin, for his work to create common sense solutions to criminal justice that support local law enforcement.

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