The Portland City Council pushed back a vote Wednesday on a proposal that would take spray paint off the shelves and require anyone purchasing the paint to show ID first.

The purpose of the proposal by City Commissioner Randy Leonard is to cut down on the graffiti problem. For Leonard, spray paint is to vandals what cold remedies are to meth cooks.

There was apparently a typo found in the proposal Wednesday, and the next chance for a vote won't be until near the end of the month.

In a similar move in 2006, Oregon became the first state to require a prescription for cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in making methamphetamine. That law change had a dramatic effect on home meth labs.

Leonard thinks locking up spray paint could have similar success against tagging.

Mayor Tom Potter said he will withhold judgment on the topic until he hears the recommendations of the city’s Small Business Advisory Council.

Police say graffiti complaints have increased sharply during the past few years.