Everett council approves new civil penalties for graffiti

Published 2:44 pm Thursday, August 21, 2025

EVERETT — Graffiti violators in Everett will face more stringent punishments after the City Council approved new civil penalties for graffiti tagging during a council meeting Wednesday.

People who tag buildings with graffiti in Everett already face potential criminal charges — that hasn’t changed. The new ordinance adds a civil penalty to graffiti violations on top of the city’s existing criminal code. That change will allow Everett police to issue fines against graffiti taggers when law enforcement doesn’t have enough evidence to meet the burden of proof necessary for a criminal case, Everett Police Department Captain Tim Morgan previously said.

Civil offenses require only a “preponderance of the evidence” to issue an infraction, whereas criminal cases require the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The new penalties will also provide diversion opportunities away from criminal charges when appropriate, Morgan said.

Penalties include a $250 fine per violation as well as restitution costs that go toward graffiti cleaning. Individuals who are unable to pay may be given community service instead, as long as that service goes toward graffiti removal, the ordinance reads.

On Wednesday, the City Council amended the ordinance to give more discretion to judges when imposing fines. Another amendment also made parents or guardians of 16- or 17-year-olds liable for financial restitution costs.

City staff are working on updates to the broader graffiti laws in Everett’s code, staff said Wednesday. Discussions on a possible “free wall” where individuals could freely draw graffiti are also being held. Cities like Redmond have put those into place in an effort to encourage graffiti artists to not damage private property.

City Council member Paula Rhyne said the ordinance may help hold prolific graffiti violators accountable, but that the measure felt “a bit incomplete in a broader strategy.” The city should work to redirect graffiti away from private properties through efforts like a “free wall,” Rhyne said, as well as take other possible prevention measures like holding owners of derelict properties accountable for increased public safety calls.

Council Vice President Ben Zarlingo agreed that a possible “free wall” could be a benefit.

“Part of the reason I and others have pushed for more resources for juveniles isn’t just a matter of crime, of police enforcement, it’s a matter of providing opportunities and better models and support,” Zarlingo said. “I think the free wall is a good example of that … It’s sort of an obligation of ours to provide those sorts of outlets and guidance and opportunities. Otherwise, if we don’t do that, we have a worse problem with juvenile crime.”

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.