Unless a hate crime is involved, many offenders charged with vandalism only pay fines and do not face jail time. Vandalism can involve graffiti or destruction of property. Some examples of fines from across the United States: In Hawaii, cemetery vandalism can lead to a fine of up to $10,000. The Hawaiian legislature passed the increase in fines in hopes of deterring vandals; If caught vandalizing in any of the areas patrolled by U.S. Forest rangers, you could pay a minimum fine of $150 or an amount that totals the object you vandalized. If an offender defaces a historical marker, that could amount to a large fine, for example; In the city of New York, anyone who vandalizes a church could be sentenced to up to a year in jail and/or pay a $10,000 fine. In California, fines range from $400 to $5,000. If the property damage is more than $400, the offender could be charged with a felony and face jail time.