Three German tourists have been cited by the federal government for shooting paintballs at signs, bathrooms and trash bins at Joshua Tree National Park, authorities said Thursday.
A ranger noticed paint splatters on park structures Sunday, according to the park service. An investigation into the nearby campground revealed a slingshot in plain view inside a vehicle, the park service said in a news release.
The visitors admitted to shooting a paintball gun, or paintball marker, and slingshots the night before, authorities said. Rangers found three slingshots, a paintball marker, paintballs and other evidence inside their vehicle.
At least 11 traffic signs were hit by yellow paintballs, the park service said.
“Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is illegal,” Jeff Filosa, acting ranger at Joshua Tree National Park, said in the release. “This harms the natural environment that millions of people travel around the world to enjoy. The park is regularly tasked with removing graffiti of all kinds, using time and resources that could be better spent on other priorities.”
The group was cited for vandalizing, defacing or destroying property. They face up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to authorities.
Paintball guns and slingshots are legally considered weapons and are not allowed in national parks.
Joshua Tree is one of the most popular national parks in the country, with more than 3 million visitors a year, according to Park Service statistics.
