City of Nanaimo legal action against ‘prolific’ graffiti tagger results in fines, order for apology

City of Nanaimo legal action against 'prolific' graffiti tagger results in fines, order for apology
icholas Pescod/CHEK News

The City of Nanaimo says it has settled civil action it launched against a vandal who left roughly 450 tags on various pieces of city property last year.

The graffiti tag “KHAOS” appeared on railway trestles, dumpsters, underpasses, utility poles and boxes, transit and buildings throughout 2020, the city said in a news release Thursday.

The person identified as the tagger was arrested in April 2020 but charges were later stayed.

The city says the tagger continued to vandalize private and public property, so council authorized a motion to seek damages for repairs and other associated costs, as well as restrain the tagger from further offences.

RELATED: Nanaimo residents afraid to walk in their neighbourhoods at night, RCMP report suggests

A settlement was reached in August this year, with a consent order requiring the defendant to pay $10,000 in fines, $5,475 in damages and provide an apology to Nanaimo residents, mayor and council.

They must also remove all of their tags on public property and attend counselling or therapy sessions.

“The City of Nanaimo is committed to taking appropriate measures to prevent and remove graffiti on public property, and to holding offenders accountable for the desecration of public and private property,” Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said in a statement.

The city said graffiti can impact the “look, feel and perception of an area,” and that Nanaimo council will take any necessary steps to prevent it.

 

CHEK NewsCHEK News

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!