Law makes parents liable for vandalism by children

     Donrey Capital Bureau
      CARSON CITY -- Gov. Bob Miller signed into law Monday a bill that stipulates parents are responsible for the vandalism of their children.
      While the bill will affect future cases like that of the 9-year-old Las Vegas boy who wrote his name in freshly poured sidewalk pavement, Assemblyman Dario Herrera, D-Las Vegas, did not introduce the bill to solve that situation.
      Jeremy Anderson wrote his name on a stretch of sidewalk about 350 feet long. He faces an April 21 court hearing.
      Herrera, 23, said recently that his constituents told him during the campaign last fall that they were concerned about youngsters getting away with vandalism.
      Under the bill, children or their parents are responsible financially for acts of vandalism. If they cannot pay, the judge must order either parents or children or both to perform community service work.
      The bill passed the Assembly 35-7 and the Senate unanimously.