This chapter shall be cited and may be referred to hereafter as the
"Graffiti Law."
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Bellerose hereby
finds and declares that graffiti poses a serious problem for our residents
and merchants. The unabated proliferation of graffiti is a physical blight
upon the landscape of the Village, it reduces property values, causes damage
to real and personal property and costs taxpayers, merchants and homeowners
substantial moneys to remove and repair. The Board also finds that, when unchecked,
graffiti presents an image of a deteriorating community.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
GRAFFITI
The etching, painting, covering, drawing upon or otherwise placing
a mark upon public or private property with intent to damage such property.
Any person who has been found guilty of any violation of the provisions
of this chapter shall be punished by a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for
each violation thereof and/or shall be imprisoned up to 15 days in jail, or
both. In addition, that person, in the court's discretion, shall be liable
for the cost of removing said graffiti from the property so defaced as part
of such punishment pursuant to the violation hereof or to perform suitable
alternate community services pursuant to the court's discretion.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof contained
in this Article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder
thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy and in which
such judgment shall have been rendered.
This chapter shall take effect immediately.