Seattle City Council approves amended ordinance to combat graffiti

The Seattle City Council approved an amendment to its graffiti ordinance, voting 6 to 2 to impose higher fines on taggers. The new legislation allows the City Attorney's Office to take legal action against prolific offenders, including civil suits and potential criminal penalties. Under the measure, violators could incur fines of up to $1,500 per incident and may be responsible for cleanup costs. Last year, the city reported 28,000 graffiti incidents, leading to cleanup expenses of about $6 million. City Attorney Ann Davison highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, asserting that Seattle will no longer tolerate graffiti vandalism.

The council's decision aims to deter future acts of vandalism by making taggers financially accountable. This legislation reflects a broader effort to maintain public spaces and discourage illegal activities. The bill is now set to be signed by Mayor Bruce Harrell to take effect.