L.A. Proposal: If you purchase spray paint you must show your ID which will be kept on file for two years.

CA- Dennis Zine is the Los Angeles City Councilman who successfully got Aaron Brothers to back off its graffiti-themed back-to-school promotion in L.A.

And even after the rousing success of the Museum of Contemporary Art's "Art in the Streets" exhibition, Zine don't stop.

He's now targeting people who buy aerosol paint:

Zine has introduced a motion that would require stores to get and keep your name and address if you buy spray cans and "graffiti paraphernalia" such as "spray paint nozzles, paint pens, glass cutting, and etching tools," according to a statement from the councilman's office.

Stores would ask for your ID and copy down the info.

According to Zine's statement:

Portland requires that every store which sells graffiti materials must also create a record of each sale for each transaction of these materials. They are required to obtain identification about the individual who makes each purchase and maintain a secure record of these sales for two years. Councilman Zine has asked the Chief Legislative Analyst, the City Attorney, and the Los Angeles Police Department to review the graffiti point of purchase recorded identification program as conducted in Portland and to report to the Public Safety Committee on its merits and potential adoption by the City of Los Angeles.

Now, call us stupid but this seems like an utter invasion of privacy and free speech. The number of times we're told our ID needs to be recorded these days (buying cold medicine, at the club) is getting out-of-hand.

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/09/graffiti_paint_dennis_zine.php