WHEREAS, many young students may be unaware of the negative consequences of random acts of graffiti on public and private property; and

WHEREAS, graffiti is a form of vandalism that is punishable by law; it is also a visual blight on schools, bus stops, freeway walls, road signs, buildings, and other public and private property statewide; and

WHEREAS, there has been an increase of graffiti on Oahu, despite efforts to eradicate it by residents, student and community groups, and neighborhoods throughout the island; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation estimates that it spends approximately $25,000 to paint over one hundred fifty thousand square feet of graffiti each year; and

WHEREAS, the dyes used in the paints, spray paints, and markers used in defacing property is an environmental pollutant, especially when the chemical products end up mixed into runoff water that finds its way into drains and waterways, thus creating a health hazard for Hawaii's people; and

WHEREAS, county governments are allowed to impose civil fines of up to $1,000 or an amount equal to the actual cost of having the damaged county property repaired or replaced; and

WHEREAS, the courts may order the parents or legal guardians of a minor child who caused graffiti damage to be liable for the real or personal property damage caused by the child; and

WHEREAS, the courts may also order the minor, the parents, or the legal guardians to pay the actual cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property and may order the minor to perform community service; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Act 187, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, those convicted of graffiti vandalism for the third time in five years may be convicted of a misdemeanor and face possible jail time and a $2,000 fine; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body strongly urges the Department of Education to coordinate educational presentations to all students entering the ninth grade on the economic, environmental, criminal, and social costs of graffiti; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education, working with the Honolulu Police Department, environmental groups, community agencies, student organizations, and others who have undertaken efforts to eradicate graffiti, is requested to develop a graffiti awareness program that includes presentations from relevant groups and agencies on the negative consequences of committing a single act of graffiti; and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, the Chairperson of the Board of Education, and the chief of police of each county.

Report Title:

Criminal Property Damage; Vandalism; Graffiti