Posts Tagged ‘graffiti’

Parental Responsibility for Juvenile Property Damage

Nov

Simms, on the topic of Juvenile Defense Misc

In Utah, there are circumstances in which a parent or legal guardian may be held financially responsible for juvenile property damage.

Photo: 401(K) 2012

Get Out Your Wallet

A parent or legal guardian can be liable for juvenile property damage up to $2000 when:

• The juvenile intentionally damages, defaces, destroys or steals someone’s property
• The juvenile recklessly or willfully shoots or propels some type of missile or other object at or against a motor vehicle, bus, airplane, boat, train/train car—whether the vehicle is moving or stationary
• The juvenile purposefully tampers with someone else’s property, recklessly endangering someone’s life or threatening a public utility service

The cost to a guardian of juvenile property damage goes up to $5000 when:

• One of the above-mentioned offenses occurs due to a juvenile’s association with any criminal street gang

Graffiti Counts as Property Damage

Defacing or tampering with a person’s property includes the application of graffiti.

Encourage Good Behavior

If you’re the type of parent who, with reasonable effort, tried to dissuade your child from causing property damage and you reported any knowledge of the damage to the property owner or police, you might not be held financially responsible after all. That does, however, depend upon the judgment of a juvenile court judge.

Talk to a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney

We know that lots of good kids make mistakes, which is why it’s important to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney if your child has any run-ins with the law. Even kids deserve to be treated with respect and have access to the advice of legal counsel, regardless of their prior actions.

Do your child a favor and call a Utah juvenile defense attorney today. It’s not too late to help your son or daughter get back on the right track.

Tags: court, crime, criminal mischief, graffiti, juvenile, liability, minor, property damage, utah, vandalism
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Utah Vandals Quote the Bible, Amongst Other Things

Feb

Simms, on the topic of Juvenile Defense Misc

Some Bible-quoting vandals recently struck in a northern Utah neighborhood, causing an undisclosed amount of damage to various properties.

Photo: Salim Virji

Messages Range From Spiritual to Obscene

The vandals, armed with green spray paint, weren’t feeling solely religious however. One woman’s home had a sexually obscene message spray painted on its garage door. The other vandalism took place on another private residence, two cars and an LDS church house.

What is Criminal Mischief?

Vandalism may also be referred to as criminal mischief. A person commits the crime of criminal mischief if he intentionally:

• Damages
• Defaces or
• Destroys

the property of another. Criminal mischief can result in vandals being charged with anything from a class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony, depending on the circumstances surrounding the vandalism.

Graffiti Can Be a Favorite for Vandals

Graffiti is another form of vandalism. Graffiti can be:

• Printing
• Writing
• Spraying
• Scratching
• Affixing or
• Inscribing

anything on any surface without the owner’s permission. Graffiti also ranges from a class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony depending on the cost of property damage. For example, if the damage caused amounts to less than $300, it would be a class B misdemeanor. On the other hand, property damage over $5000 would be a second-degree felony. Vandals who resort to using graffiti can face both financial and criminal penalties.

Let a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney Represent Your Child

If you have a child who has been charged with any criminal activities, it is important to consult a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Let an experienced attorney guide you through the challenging court system, instead of trying navigate it on your own. An attorney can help you have some piece of mind while you are supporting your child through a difficult time.

Tags: criminal mischief, graffiti, juvenile, utah, vandal, vandalism
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Graffiti in Utah

May

Simms, on the topic of Utah Law

Some people think that graffiti is art, but Utah law says it’s a crime, especially when you do it on someone else’s property. Graffiti is defined as any kind of unauthorized printing, writing, spraying, scratching, affixing or inscribing on any person’s property, regardless of the nature of or reason behind the graffiti. The penalty varies depending on the costs involved in removing graffiti. Graffiti is a:

Second degree felony if the damage is $5000 or more;
Third degree felony if the damage is $1000 or more;
Class A misdemeanor if the damage is $300 or more;
Class B misdemeanor if the damage is less than $300.

Photo: Franco Folini

If a person is convicted of using graffiti, as a condition of probation that person may be ordered to clean up the graffiti he made, as well as any other graffiti made by another person, at a place and time within the jurisdiction of the court. Additionally, a person convicted of using graffiti will be held financially liable for the costs associated with the repair, replacement or removal of the graffiti.

As tempting as it may be to leave your mark on some surface for all to see, think before you pull out that can of spray paint and begin your masterpiece. Unless you want to be responsible for cleaning it up and potentially cleaning up some other person’s artwork and have a criminal record, your best bet is to get yourself a real canvas from the art store. You can still express yourself artistically and stay out of a courtroom.

Tags: graffiti, utah
Posted in Utah Law | No Comments »