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(1) A person must not, without reasonable excuse (proof of which lies on the person), intentionally mark any premises or other property, unless the person has first obtained the consent of the following:
(a) in relation to premises that are occupied—the occupier or person in charge of the premises,
(b) in relation to premises that are unoccupied or other property—the owner or person in charge of the premises or property.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence under this subsection if the person commits an offence under subsection (1) in circumstances of aggravation.
[NOTE: circumstances of aggravation mean if the person intentionally marks the premises or other property:
(a) by means of any graffiti implement, or
(b) in such a manner that the mark is not readily removable by wiping or by the use of water or detergent.]
Penalty:
(1) Fine of 4 penalty units
(2) Imprisonment 12 months or fine of 20 penalty units
Summary/Indictable/mixed:
Summary
Jurisdiction:
Local Court.
How committed:
(1) A person sprays paint on another’s garden fence.
(2) A group of youths climb into a railway yard and paint a train.
Important note:
A court that convicts a person of an offence under subsection (2) must not sentence the person to imprisonment unless the person has previously been convicted of an offence under this section or section 5 (or under section 10A or 10B of the Summary Offences Act 1988 as in force before their repeal by this Act) on so many occasions that the court is satisfied that the person is a serious and persistent offender and is likely to commit such an offence again.
These offences do not apply to the marking of any public footpath or public pavement with chalk, including, but not limited to, marking out a hopscotch or handball court with chalk.