Vandalism, sometimes referred to as criminal mischief, includes reckless or intentional action that harms or destroys another person’s property.  One specific kind of vandalism is marking any public or private property with graffiti. Graffiti usually means spray- painting words or pictures on property without permission of the owner.  Even if you think graffiti  is “art,” or you think it looks better than a plain wall, you can be subject to penalties and responsibility for removing the graffiti.  If you are a minor, your parents may also be responsible.  In Anchorage, the penalty for a first graffiti offense is $500; the penalty for second and subsequent offenses is $1,000.  Penalties collected are deposited into an anti-graffiti fund that is used for rewards to persons who provide information that leads to the actual payment of a fine.