Okla. Senator Aims to Increase Penalty for Vandalizing County Property

Oklahoma State Sen. David Myers has filed Senate Bill 348, aiming to deter vandals from damaging and destroying property owned by counties in the state. Myers, R-Ponca City, said the state’s counties spend thousands of dollars each year replacing and repairing vandalized signs and other property.

Under current law, county commissioner boards are authorized by the state to offer and pay up to $100 as a reward for the arrest and conviction, or for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of any person stealing or defacing county road signs. SB 348 would add all other county property to the list along with increasing the allowed reward amount to $1,000. The county commissioner boards’ allowed amount for their reward funds would also be increased from $500 to $2,000.

The measure was requested by the Oklahoma Association of County Commissioners. The idea for the legislation came from Grant County Commissioner for District 2, Cindy Bobbitt who says vandalism has cost the county tens of thousands of dollars since she got into office four years ago.

Source: Oklahoma Senate