Teens and spray paint are a great combination. Not.
Lawmakers in this Chicago suburb, home of "Wayne's World" characters Wayne and Garth, don't want minors to party on with paint, so Tuesday they banned the sale of spray paint to minors.Civil libertarians and paint manufacturers protested the ban, but a unanimous Aurora City Council voted for the measure, saying it will help stop graffiti.
Under the measure, anyone under 18 caught with spray paint would face a $500 fine and mandatory community service. Teens who are caught driving and painting can lose their cars until their parents post a $250 bond.
"I think this is a step in the right direction for the village," said Mayor David Pierce. "I think it's fair for both the store owners and the village residents, with the compromises we have made."
The Aurora ordinance is the latest, and harshest, effort by local government to strike out against crime.
Last year, the Chicago City Council approved a total ban on spray paint sales for minors and adults. But the ordinance was struck down because a judge said it presented constitutional problems.
Although the Aurora ban is considered one of the toughest anti-graffiti measures in the nation, it is far less stringent than the one originally proposed.
City Council members initially wanted a complete ban on all spray paint sales to adults and minors.