The Princess: Graffiti Artist or Repeat Felony Offender? You Be The Judge.

We're having a bit of an "issue" (picture me making quote signs with my hands in the air) with The Princess and her artistic utterances. I'm indeed convinced this "issue" needs to be addressed legally, as I'm fairly certain that all of my property is or has been, at one point, destroyed by this little lady. She's 4.5 (read: SHE KNOWS BETTER ON SO MANY LEVELS IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY.) I am considering kicking her out letting the legal system determine the appropriate punitive action since nothing I do seems to help. Yes, I am litigious. I've begged my mother not to purchase any more writing utensils for her, I've had her clean it up herself, but alas - nothing curbs Princess's insatiable urge to artistically destroy.

I've stolen some explanatory sentencing documentation from a legal site about graffiti, so we can all be objective in this sentencing. But first, the evidence... (click photos to enlarge the type)











Graffiti is a crime Stringent penalties in the Crimes Act 1900 and in the Summary Offenses Act 1988 have been introduced to deal with graffiti crime (That's what I said). Under section 195 of the Crimes Act a person who maliciously destroys or damages property belonging to another is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 5 years. (That should be sufficient time for me to acquire the funds to purchase all new furniture for her to start over then.) If the destruction or damage is caused by means of fire or explosives (ahhh. so that's what's next), the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 10 years. (I know - you're thinking it's a bit harsh, but did you see those pictures??) In the Summary Offenses Act the penalties for graffiti offenses are:

• Section 9 - willfully marking, by means of chalk, paint or other material (crayons, pencils and my Monogrammed address stamper sufficiently qualify, no?), any premises, where the marking is within view from a public place unless the consent of the occupier or person in charge of the premises is first obtained.
  

Graffiti Removal:
You do not have to accept that once your property has been subject to graffiti it is there to stay. (I KNOW!) One of the more effective strategies against illegal graffiti is to remove it as quickly as possible and to persist in removing it. (Sounds like a FANTASTIC way to spend my days. I'LL give YOU an effective strategy....

Princess, looks like the writings' on the wall, little one...