What are Graffiti Crimes in Utah?You commit the crime of graffiti when you deface, without permission, the property of another by graffiti.
Graffiti is a:
(a). Second degree felony if the damage caused is in excess of $5,000;
(b). Third degree felony if the damage caused is equal to or in excess of $1,000 but less than or equal to $5,000;
(c). Class A misdemeanor if the damage caused is equal to or in excess of $300 but less than $1,000; and
(d). Class B misdemeanor if the damage caused is less than $300.
When you are charged with Graffiti as a juvenile under 18 years old it is called “delinquency.” Adults are charged with crimes. Juveniles are charged with delinquencies.
(1). Non-Judicial Adjustment. In non-judicial adjustment you never see the juvenile judge unless your turn down the offer of non-judicial adjustment or you violate the terms of the probation agreement.
(2). Petition for Delinquency. You are in a delinquency petition if you have to see the juvenile judge.
Both juvenile petitions for delinquency and non-judicial adjustment are expungeable matters.
Defenses to Graffiti Charges in Utah
Valuation. Graffiti charges in Utah are based on the valuation of the damage caused to the property. Graffiti that causes damage under $300 is a Class B Misdemeanor. Over $300 but under $1,000 is a Class A Misdemeanor. Not always, buts sometimes the value of the angry landowner’s damages can be disputed where a felony should never have been charged. Expert witnesses and restoration companies can be hired to determine the damaged repair values.
Effective 5/3/2023
76-6-107. Defacement by graffiti defined — Penalties — Removal costs — Reimbursement liability — Victim liability.
(1)
(a) As used in this section, “victim” means the person whose property is defaced or damaged by the use of graffiti and who bears the expense for removal of the graffiti.
(b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-6-101 apply to this section.
(2) An actor commits defacement by graffiti if the actor, without permission, defaces or damages the property of another by graffiti.
(3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a:
(a) second degree felony if the damage caused is in excess of $5,000;
(b) third degree felony if the damage caused is equal to or in excess of $1,000 but less than or equal to $5,000;
(c) class A misdemeanor if the damage caused is equal to or in excess of $300 but less than $1,000; and
(d) class B misdemeanor if the damage caused is less than $300.
(4) Damages under Subsection (3) include removal costs, repair costs, or replacement costs, whichever is less.
(5) The court shall order an individual convicted under Subsection (3) to pay restitution to the victim in an amount equal to the costs incurred by the victim as a result of the graffiti.
(6) An additional amount of $1,000 in restitution shall be added to removal costs if the graffiti is positioned on an overpass or an underpass, requires that traffic be interfered with in order to remove it, or the entity responsible for the area in which the clean-up is to take place must provide assistance in order for the removal to take place safely.
(7) An individual who voluntarily, at the individual’s own expense, and with the consent of the property owner, removes graffiti for which the individual is responsible may be credited for the removal costs against restitution ordered by a court.
(8) Before an authorized government agency may issue a citation or assess a fine to a victim for the victim’s failure to remove graffiti from the victim’s property, the agency shall:
(a) provide written notice to the victim alerting the victim of the graffiti;
(b) allow the victim one week after the day on which the agency provides written notice of the graffiti to remove the graffiti; and
(c) provide the victim with a list of resources available to assist the victim with removal of the graffiti.
(9)
(a) After receiving notification of graffiti under Subsection (8)(a), a victim who is unable to remove the graffiti due to physical or financial hardship may alert the agency that provided notice under Subsection (8)(a) of the hardship.
(b) If an authorized government agency finds a victim has demonstrated that the victim would experience significant hardship in removing the graffiti, the agency:
(i) may not issue a citation or assess a fee to the victim for failure to remove the graffiti; and
(ii) shall provide, or hire an outside entity to provide, the assistance necessary to remove the graffiti from the victim’s property.
(c) An authorized government agency that provides, or hires an outside agency to provide, assistance under Subsection (9)(b)(ii), may request reimbursement from a restitution order, under Subsection (5), against an individual who used graffiti to damage the property that the agency removed, or paid another to remove.
Amended by Chapter 111, 2023 General Session
