Would Spray Can Ban Blot Out Graffiti?

If a bill now being considered by the state Legislature passes, portable spray paint would be banned in Southern California as of Jan. 1, 2000.

Supporters see the measure--which would only be a test before expanding the ban statewide--as a simple, common-sense approach to fighting graffiti: Take away the spray paint, and taggers will have nothing to do their tagging with.

However, opponents argue that the measure is unfairly restrictive to the paint industry and that the effectiveness of such a ban is doubtful as taggers may switch to other tools or find a way around the law. As it is currently written, the law would ban spray paint unless the spray mechanism can be activated only if tethered to a fixed power source, such as an electrical cord and outlet.

Should spray paint be banned in Southern California?

State Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles):

“At first I thought it was a ridiculous idea. After speaking to the person who developed [the tethered spray] and when they showed me how it worked, I thought it would be effective in a small way. . . . I didn’t think it was fair for the paint manufacturers to put a ban on a product they developed for consumers. . . . We changed the language so that it was not an entire ban [on all types of spray paint]. . . . I’m not for making it inconvenient for the people to use it in the yard to spray paint furniture. . . . We decided on a proposal that might help us reduce the amount of graffiti. So let’s give it a try and see if it works.”

Albert Melena, coordinator of Blythe Street Prevention Project, San Fernando Valley Partnership:

“I really think they need to find something else for these kids who are spray painting to do. . . . Rather than ban spray paint, they would go find something else to do. They may be artists, and if there is a way to use that talent they may find another way to express themselves. . . . [A ban] may make it even that much more exciting if they are doing something that is that much more illegal. . . . That’s just a Band-Aid solution. . . . I don’t feel it’s a solution. That’s not even close to a solution.”

LAPD Senior Lead Officer Les Lovatt, Devonshire Division:

“I completely understand why people would like to ban spray paint, but I don’t believe you can tell the whole portion of the business world they have to stop making spray paint. . . . If kids want to go out and tag, they can take rollers and paintbrushes. . . . [But] mostly, the spray cans are convenient. It’s easy and fast and compact and [police] can’t see it. Two or three spray cans in a jacket pocket, they can’t see.”

Candice Ocampo, Cal State Northridge graduate arts student, designer of an anti-graffiti mural project:

“It seems kind of extreme. . . . They seem to be getting the cans anyway. . . . I have a feeling they’ll find a way around it. I don’t know if it will work. . . . There’s a lot of talent out there. If you channel it somehow, you can create something beautiful.”

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