HONOLULU -- State lawmakers want to crack down on graffiti vandals and their parents.

Among the proposals that advanced on Monday at the Legislature is a bill holding parents financially responsible for graffiti cleanup if their kids are convicted.

Larry Hurst and other volunteers go on graffiti patrols twice a week in the Ala Moana area. He uses solvents to clean off fresh graffiti from stoplight poles and signs. When the solvents do not work, the volunteers use gray spray paint to cover up graffiti on a light pole.

At a state Senate Judiciary hearing, Hurst told lawmakers penalties against young graffiti vandals need to be tougher.

"I've caught one person tagging my building -- a 15-year-old high school student. That's been months ago. I've yet to hear anything back," Hurst told lawmakers.

New proposals would require fines of $1,500 for first-time graffiti offenders. Now, judges can fine only up to $1,000.

Repeat graffiti violators could be sent to prison for six months as part of tougher legislation.

Another proposal would require parents whose kids are convicted of graffiti crimes to pay for the damage they caused.

"We can make them financially responsible. So, we intend to do that. But, if there's other ways that parents can also become more responsible for their minor children, then we intend to look at those when we amend the bill," Sen. Clayton Hee said.

The state Public Defender's Office opposes the changes, arguing that young people would not have the money to pay big fines, and mandatory jail should not be imposed for graffiti vandals when criminals convicted of assault or burglary do not face similar mandatory prison time.

The state Department of Transportation had a suggestion.

"Revoking the privilege of driving; revoking the driver's license for people who are convicted of committing graffiti," the DOT's Francis Keeno said.

Hurst said that lawmakers need to do something soon, because vandals are coming up with new techniques, like using pre-drawn priority mail labels to stick onto surfaces, leaving their illegal marks quicker than ever.