North Carolina lawmakers passed a measure this week that makes graffiti a crime with more serious penalties for some.
House Bill 552 makes graffiti a felony if someone has had two or more past convictions. Otherwise, a conviction would be a Class 1 misdemeanor and would include a minimum of a $500 fine and the possibility of 24 hours of community service.
Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, was the primary sponsor of the legislation, which stipulates that the crime includes spray painting any public building, statues or monuments located in a public place and cemetery tombstones and monuments.
The bill now goes to Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature.
Here’s how the House and Senate voted on the measure, as reported by the N.C. General Assembly:
NC House vote: House Bill 552
| Democrat | Republican | |
| Ayes: | Representative(s): Adcock; Ager; Alexander; B. Turner; Baskerville; Brisson; Brockman; C. Graham; Carney; Cotham; D. Hall; Floyd; G. Graham; G. Martin; Glazier; Goodman; Hamilton; Hunter; Insko; Jackson; L. Bell; Lucas; Pierce; Queen; R. Johnson; Reives; Salmon; Waddell; Willingham; Wray | Representative(s): Adams; Arp; Avila; B. Brown; Bishop; Blackwell; Blust; Boles; Bradford; Brawley; Brody; Bumgardner; Burr; Cleveland; Collins; Conrad; Daughtry; Davis; Dixon; Dobson; Dollar; Elmore; Faircloth; Ford; Fraley; Hager; Hardister; Hastings; Holloway; Horn; Howard; Hurley; Iler; J. Bell; Jeter; Jones; Jordan; L. Johnson; Lambeth; Langdon; Malone; McGrady; McNeill; Millis; Pendleton; Pittman; Presnell; R. Brown; R. Turner; Riddell; Robinson; Ross; S. Martin; Saine; Schaffer; Setzer; Shepard; Speciale; Stam; Steinburg; Stevens; Szoka; Tine; Torbett; Warren; Watford; West; Whitmire |
| Noes: | Representative(s): Farmer-Butterfield; Fisher; Gill; Hanes; Harrison; Holley; Luebke; Meyer; Michaux; Richardson; Terry | Representative(s): None |
| Not Voting: | Representative(s): Cunningham; Earle | Representative(s): T. Moore (SPEAKER) |
| Exc. Absence: | Representative(s): L. Hall; R. Moore | Representative(s): Bryan; Catlin; Lewis; McElraft; Yarborough; Zachary |
NC Senate vote
| Democrat | Republican | |
| Ayes: | Senator(s): Clark; Lowe; McKissick; Smith; Stein; Woodard | Senator(s): Alexander; Apodaca; B. Jackson; Barefoot; Barringer; Berger; Bingham; Brock; Brown; Cook; Curtis; Daniel; Gunn; Harrington; Hartsell; Hise; J. Davis; Krawiec; Lee; McInnis; Meredith; Newton; Pate; Rabin; Rabon; Randleman; Rucho; Sanderson; Soucek; Tarte; Tillman; Tucker; Wade; Wells |
| Noes: | Senator(s): Blue; D. Davis; Ford; Foushee; J. Jackson; Robinson; Smith-Ingram; Van Duyn; Waddell | Senator(s): None |
| Exc. Absence: | Senator(s): Bryant | Senator(s): None |
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