Vandalism: political signs.

Existing law establishes various offenses for vandalizing property, including for the vandalism of polling place materials at an election. This bill would prohibit a person from knowingly destroying, marking, tearing down, or otherwise defacing a sign supporting or opposing a candidate for elective office or a ballot measure without authorization from the campaign responsible for the production or creation of the sign. The bill would make a person who violates this provision subject to an additional fine not to exceed $1,000. The bill would provide that the imposition of this fine does not relieve a person of specified duties relating to court ordered graffiti cleanup or repair or replacement of damaged property. Because this bill would create a new crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.