TWENTYNINE PALMS, California. – According to the National Park Service, three tourists were charged with shooting paintballs at signs, toilets and dumpsters during their visit to Joshua Tree National Park.
According to NPS, a park ranger patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground on August 4 noticed fresh paintball splatters on several buildings and signs, and authorities spotted a slingshot in plain sight in a vehicle.
After being questioned, the three tourists admitted to using a compressed paintball gun – also called a paintball marker – and slingshots in the area.
During a search of their vehicle, three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs and other “related equipment” were seized, officials said.
A total of 11 traffic signs were shot at with paintballs.
“Defacement or alteration of the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law,” said Jeff Filosa, assistant chief ranger of Joshua Tree National Park. “It damages the natural environment that millions of people around the world come to enjoy. The park must regularly remove graffiti of all kinds, which takes time and resources that could be better spent on other priorities.”
The three visitors from Germany each received a federal warning ticket for vandalism, damage or destruction of property.
The violation is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.
Paintball markers and slingshots are legally considered weapons and are prohibited on lands managed by the National Park Service.
