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Introduced Version Senate Bill 266 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

Senate Bill No. 266

(By Senators Jenkins and Plymale)

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[Introduced January 8, 2014; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3-59, relating to crimes against property involving graffiti; defining offenses and a term; establishing misdemeanor and felony criminal penalties; providing mandatory court-approved community service; permitting court-ordered restitution; requiring suspension of driver’s license in certain circumstances; providing that if an offender does not have a driver’s license that person may be temporarily prohibited from applying for one; providing that affected property owners may institute a civil action to recover damages in an amount up to three times the loss or the cost of restoration, attorneys’ fees and costs; and providing that civil liability is not precluded by criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3-59, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.

§61-3-59. Graffiti; definition; penalties; restitution; driver’s              license suspension; damages recoverable in a civil              action.

    (a) As used in this section, “graffiti” means any unauthorized inscription, word, figure or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn or painted on any real or personal property.

    (b) A person who places graffiti on public or private property, real or personal, of another, without the permission of the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, for a first offense, may be confined in jail not less than twenty-four hours nor more than six months or fined not more than $1,000, or both fined and confined. For a second offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, may be confined in jail not less than forty-eight hours nor more than six months or fined not more than $2,000, or both fined and confined. For third and subsequent offenses, the person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, may be confined in a correctional facility for not less than one nor more than three years or fined not more than $10,000, or both fined and confined.

    (c) Any conviction for a violation of subsection (b) of this section for an offense which occurred more than ten years prior to the date of arrest in a current proceeding may not be considered for the purposes of imposing a sentence under that subsection relating to a second, third and subsequent offense.

    (d) The court may, in addition to any other fine or penalty imposed, order a person who violates this section to pay restitution.

    (e) A person convicted under this section shall be sentenced to not less than one hundred twenty hours of court-approved community service. The court may order the person to repair, replace, or clean up the property damaged or destroyed by the person or any other public or private property, with approval of the owner, that is located in the county where the offense occurred.

    (f) If a person who is less than eighteen years of age is found guilty of violating this section, the court may, in addition to any other penalty imposed, issue an order suspending the driver's license of the person for not more than two years. If the person does not possess a driver's license, the court may issue an order prohibiting the person from applying for a driver's license for not less than six months and not more than two years. The court shall, within five days after issuing the order, forward to the Division of Motor Vehicles any licenses together with a copy of the order.

    (g) A criminal penalty imposed pursuant to this section is in addition to any civil penalty or other remedy available pursuant to this section or another statute for the same conduct.

    (h) The owner of public or private property that has been damaged by graffiti may bring a civil action against the person who placed the graffiti on the property. The court may award to the property owner damages in an amount up to three times the amount of any loss in value to the property or up to three times the cost of restoring the property plus attorney's fees and costs, or both.




    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make it a crime to place graffiti on real and personal property. The bill defines the offenses and a term. The bill establishes misdemeanor and, felony criminal penalties. The bill provides for suspension of driver’s license in certain circumstances. The bill provides for sentencing of community service. The bill provides that affected property owners may institute a civil action for recovery of damages in an amount up to three times the loss or the cost of restoration, attorneys’ fees and costs. The bill provides that civil liability is not precluded by criminal provisions.


    This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.

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