San Clemente : Crackdown Approved on Spray-Can Artists

Spray-can artists who attempt to attain immortality by leaving their marks on walls and buildings won’t be welcome in San Clemente now that the City Council has given final approval to an ordinance designed to prevent the spread of graffiti.

In a unanimous vote last week, the five-member council voted to enact the ordinance that will ban sales of spray paint to minors and prohibit anyone from possessing spray paint while in a city park or other recreational facility.

San Clemente’s problem with graffiti is minimal, but because a little graffiti can lead to a lot, the new law is needed to curb its spread, police say.

The ordinance, which takes effect Oct. 18, also requires graffiti artists caught in the act to remove their markings from the city’s walls and fences. If the culprits cannot be found, property owners themselves must remove the graffiti or face liens against their property if the city has to do it for them.