1. For the purposes of this article, "graffiti" means any form of unauthorized inscription, word, figure or design which is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, sprayed, painted or otherwise affixed to or on any surface of public or private property, including but not limited to buildings, walls, signs, structures or places, or other surfaces regardless of its content or nature and regardless of the nature of the material of that structural component or property.
2. The City of Los Angeles may offer and pay a reward of $2,000 in response to acts of a graffiti-related vandalism or defacement that results in damage or destruction to public or private property in the City of Los Angeles.
3. Any person interested in seeking a reward under this article shall complete an "Information and Application for Reward" form prepared by and available from the Office of the City Clerk. In the event the applicant is under 18 years of age, the applicant's parent or legal guardian must also sign the form indicating his or her consent to the submission of the application. The applicant shall mail the completed form to the Los Angeles Police Department (Department) at the address indicated on the form. All applications must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the act referred to in the application.
4. The Department shall review the completed form and if it believes the applicant has met the criteria of this article for receiving an award, shall transmit a report to the City Council recommending payment of a reward. In the event the information resulted in a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer, the name of the juvenile shall not appear in the report. The Department shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California. If the Department determines that the applicant has not met the criteria to receive a reward, then the Department shall, in writing, notify the applicant. If the applicant disagrees with the determination of the Department, he or she may submit a written appeal to the City Council. The appeal shall set forth in writing the reasons why the person disagrees with the Department's determination. All appeals shall be submitted to the City Clerk within 60 days after the date notification is sent. The City Council decision on the appeal shall be final.
5. Upon the Clerk's receipt of the Department's report recommending payment of a reward, the City Council may, by adoption of a motion, resolution or committee report, approve the payment of a reward to the applicant and instruct the City Clerk to file the necessary report with the City Controller to cause the reward to be paid from the Vandalism and Graffiti Reward Trust Fund.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 164,743, Eff. 5-21-89.
Amended by: Ord. No. 166,507, Eff. 1-20-91; Subsecs. 2, 3, and 5, Ord. No. 167,975, Eff. 7-13-92; Subsecs. 2 and 5, Ord. No. 168,217, Eff. 10-3-92; Subsecs. 2 and 5, Ord. No. 174,798, Eff. 10-12-02; Subsec. 1, Ord. No. 180,708, Eff. 7-6-09; Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.