On June 16, 2010, members of a tagging crew were arrested for doing hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage over the last year. The vandalism included damage during the Lakers’ 2009 victory celebration. Members looted several retail establishments, smashed car windows and even vandalized police cars. At least 31 individuals were arrested after officers conducted probation searches and served search warrants. After some more investigation, detectives learned the crew, OCP or “Out Causing Panic”, has been vandalizing all across Los Angeles County, including El Monte, Pico Rivera and Whittier. In addition to vandalism, OCP members have been involved in assaults, robberies, vehicle thefts and drug sales.

The arrests have come just in time to help prevent a repeat vandalism attack that occurred during post game celebrations last year following the Lakers’ title win. The Lakers were set to play the Boston Celtics in Game 7 in Los Angeles for the 2010 NBA championship on June 17th. See, Penal Code Section 594.

In Garden Grove, Orange County, taggers will now be fined up to $1,000 for possession of graffiti instruments. The city will even make parents pay, if the tagger is a juvenile. The issuance of these citations will be starting March 1st. According to the Orange County Register, City Manager Matt Fertal said administrative fines are a “tried and tested tactic for Garden Grove.” In the recent past, citations for illegal fireworks proved to be very effective after a city ordinance was passed allowing law enforcement to issue administrative citations to those shooting off illegal fireworks. Fertal also notes that the fines are a quicker more efficient way to handle these less serious offenses. Money collected from these fines will help pay for wiping out all the graffiti that’s already been done. In other Orange County cities, taggers face criminal prosecution (and suspension of their license if convicted) in the court system rather than administrative fines, so Garden Grove taggers should count themselves lucky. (See also Penal Code Section 594, Vandalism and Penal Code Section 594.2, Possession of Vandalism Tools).