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Mass. Bill Lifts License Suspension For Convicted Graffiti Artists

BOSTON (AP) — Graffiti artists and others convicted of tagging buildings would no longer face a one-year suspension of their driver's licenses under a bill approved by the Massachusetts Senate.

The bill would leave in place other penalties, including up to two years in jail and a fine of between $1,500 and three times the value of the damaged property.

Under state law, tagging refers to spraying or applying paint or placing a sticker upon a "building, wall, fence, sign, tablet, gravestone, monument or other object" on a public way.

The bill was one of four passed by the Senate on Thursday as part of an effort to update Massachusetts criminal justice laws.

Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg says the goal is to increase public safety, reduce recidivism and save tax dollars.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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