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Graffiti Frequently-Asked Questions
Answers
How do I report graffiti?
Graffiti may be reported in one of three ways:
1. By web form.
Fill out our web
form and submit the report, including detailed description of the
location.
2. By phone. Call the Graffiti Hotline or refer to our "Do
Not Remove from These Properties!" directory and contact the
appropriate agency. Or use our In-House Code Enforcement phone number
808-5948 to report graffiti on property that you removed.
3. By mail. Send us photo documentation of the graffiti with a detailed
description of the location, date it occurred, and contact information
to: Sacramento Police Department, Attn: Graffiti Unit, 5770 Freeport
Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95822.
See more information on how to Record
- Report - Remove graffiti.
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How can I prevent graffiti?
What can be done? Many areas have in place prevention
measures including the aggressive/timely removal of graffiti and policies
banning gang symbols. What can you do personally? There are several
ways you can help:
- Report any graffiti you find immediately to the appropriate agency.
This is important for two reasons: to identify trends in type/location
of graffiti and to get it cleaned up promptly.
- Remove any graffiti immediately to show that you care about your property.
This will dissuade the graffiti vandal because it doesn't give the recognition
they are looking for if you remove it quickly.
- Visually discourage graffiti vandals from using your property by
choosing darker paint colors. This make their monikers stand out less,
contradicting their goal of quick and easy recognition.
- Install motion-activated lights or security cameras on your property
to scare them away.
- Use landscaping to deter graffiti vandals. Plant thorny or vine plants
in front of ideal surfaces such as walls or fences. Graffiti vandals
will avoid thorny plants so they don't get hurt or rip their clothes.
Vine plants make the surfaces difficult to paint.
- If graffiti vandals continue to use your wood fence, consider installing
a metal cyclone fence so the surface is no longer flat and easy to paint.
- If a wall, roof, or flat surface is easy for graffiti vandals to access,
make it more difficult by installing locks, fences, or gates.
- Attend one of the gang awareness classes offered periodically through
your school district or local law enforcement agency. Contact the Staff
Development Department of your district or your local law enforcement
service center for details.
- Identify and report any individuals you feel may be involved in graffiti
vandalism; look for the warning signs.
- Work with local law enforcement, the school district, and the community
to establish supervised/constructive late night alternatives like nighttime
basketball, competitive drill teams, or dance programs.
- Know who your local resources are: school district administrators,
community officials, school law enforcement officers, and area law enforcement
officers.
- Get involved in or start a neighborhood watch program in your area.
- Know the key phone numbers to use in reporting graffiti in the Sacramento
area.
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Who
will remove the graffiti?
According to the city's ordinance, the owner
of the property is responsible for removing graffiti on their property.
If the owner does not remove it in a timely matter, the city will remove
it and a fee is generated for abatement services. Ultimately, it is
the owner's responsibility for maintaining their property and it's best
that they remove it immediately. The city will provide owners with paint
with which to remove the graffiti themselves, see Core Services. The
fees for service to remove graffiti from property is $345 and any other
applicable fees. It is more cost and time effective for owners to remove
graffiti from their own property.
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Why
does graffiti need to be removed?
Removing graffiti immediately shows that you care about
your property and community. Prompt removal may dissuade the graffiti
vandals from returning because their moniker/tag will not be seen by
their peer group or the general public. The main objective of the vandals
is to become infamous by the recognition.
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Who
is doing this to my property?
As with any criminal activity, it is impossible to
point to a particular person or group of people and say, "this
is a graffiti vandal." However, what we can do is look at three
types of people/groups that have historically been involved in graffiti
vandalism:
Criminal Gangs
We call this a "criminal" gang to differentiate between this
type of gang and the "tagging" gang (crew) which we will discuss
next. The criminal gang's main focus is criminal activity other than
graffiti. It uses graffiti as an identifier. This type of graffiti typically
would have the gang name (or symbol). Most, if not all, gangs abbreviate
their names into several letters, numbers, roman numerals, or symbols.
This graffiti might also include an individual's name/nickname, commonly
known as a moniker.
Graffiti Crews
The tagging crew is by strictest definition a gang. A gang is a group
of individuals working toward unlawful ends, which the tagging crew
does through its graffiti. The crew also abbreviates its name into an
acronym, which is quicker and easier to tag. The Graffiti Crews' main
goal is to tag, not engage in other criminal activity. However, as a
means to achieve their goals the crewmembers may commit other criminal
acts, such as shoplifting supplies, and trespassing.
Crews and graffiti vandals will also change their monikers
from time to time. Crews will compete against rival crews to see who
can do the best and/or most tags in a given time. This competition is
known as a "battle." The crew which loses the battle must
stop using their crew name and choose another or lose status.
It is not uncommon for vandalism to occur at tagger
parties, but many crew members will go on "bombing" runs afterwards.
"Bombing" is when a crew gathers together to write as much
graffiti as they possibly can on private/public property. The harder
or more dangerous the tag is to accomplish, the more prestige the graffiti
vandal will receive. While bombing, crews sometimes put up their whole
crew roster. Members from the crew not present will still be listed.
Usually the first one listed on the roster is the person who wrote it.
In just one bombing run, a crew can cover not only their own community
but all surrounding cities. The more widepsread a crew's name appears,
the more recognition they will receive. Crews who have accomplished
this task are known as "All City."
Most of the problems crews face are in gang "turf"
areas. They can often be mistaken for gang members due to their dress
and/or actions. This is one reason why graffiti vandals may arm themselves
with some type of weapon for protection.
Individuals
The last group is simply perpetrators who act alone; their graffiti
is not related to any gang or crew. They are usually referred to as
"oners." Members of crews don't recognize them as legitimate
graffiti vandals.
Signs to Look for
- Graffiti on school books, class assignments, or clothing
- Blood-shot eyes from being out all night tagging and being exposed
to toxic fumes from markers and paint
- Bulky military jacket, pull-over or zip-up with a hood helps to conceal
spray cans and markers
- Paint or marker pen dye stains on hands, under fingernails, or on
clothes
- Spray paint on shoes
- Baggie clothes with deep pockets to conceal spray cans
- Backpack to hide graffiti tools
- Possession of graffiti instruments (i.e. spray paint, markers)
There are a few graffiti vandals with access to a vehicle due to
their age. The most common means of transportation for a graffiti
vandal is public transit. Graffiti vandals want their work to be seen
by others in their peer group. Since other graffiti vandals often
use the same routes, the hardest hit areas are transit stops and routes.
Graffiti vandals frequently meet at various transit stops to discuss
new "bombing" tactics or areas, and also have "tagging
parties".
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Where
is graffiti found?
Almost any building or object could be the target of
a graffiti vandal; the graffiti vandal has little regard for sanctity
of private or public property. The location tagged varies with the purpose
for the graffiti (See "Why are they doing this to my proper06/27/2008laces visible to the public; it would
not serve the graffiti vandals' or gangs' purpose to tag a location
no one else could see. Listed below are some areas in a school setting
where graffiti might be found; some would be obvious if seen, others
require more careful observation:
- Buildings
This is probably the most common area where graffiti is found. It is
often located on major thoroughfares or intersections. The area of the
building tagged will most likely be highly visible.
- Lockers
Another favorite spot to tag area school or gym lockers. A relatively
new form of graffiti used on lockers is the use of adhesive labels.
The graffiti vandal will design the graffiti on the label using pens
and markers before applying the label on a surface.
- Books/Binders
Many graffiti vandals take great pride in their work, to the point of
carrying it around with them. A binder with clear plastic pockets on
the front is common; the graffiti vandals place the papers with graffiti
in the pockets.
- School Projects
Some vandals are brazen enough to display their work in school assignments,
such as photographs and art sketches.
- Other School Property
As we've mentioned already, just about anywhere could be a target of
graffiti. Particularly damaging is the etching of graffiti into surfaces,
such as mirrors, desks, and windows.
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What do they use to graffiti?
A wide variety of items and substances have been used
to create graffiti. Examples that have been found at school sites and
in the community include:
Spray Paint
Used for large-scale graffiti vandalism. Although law restricts the
sale of spray paint to minors it continues to be the weapon of choice.
Paint and Felt Markers
A favorite due to their small, easily concealable size, these markers
can be used on paper or porous surfaces.
Grease Pencils
Many newers school sites make extensive use of brick in their building
construction. Vandals have found grease pencils to be very effective
in defacing these buildings.
Etching
Scratching instruments or chemicals may be used to etch the graffiti
into glass.
Decals/Stickers
Used to affix graffiti to various locations and surfaces.
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How
can I use landscaping to deter graffiti vandals?
Although many products exist to deter graffiti vandals,
an alternative exists which, depending on watering access, can have
excellent long-term benefits. The following list offers ideas for shrubs
and vining. However, prior to your selection a nurseryperson should
be contacted to be sure that these plants are offered by the nursery,
and are compatible with your soil and climate.
While there are no plants that will actually catch
a burglar, the plants on this list, through thorns or prickly foliage
will restrict access. Combined with proper security, you can make the
property veritually prowler proof.
| Name |
Defense |
Height |
Spread |
Location |
Flower/Berry |
| Darwin Barbary |
Thorns |
6 |
4 |
Sun |
Orange/Blue |
| Threespine Barbary |
Thorns |
5 |
3 |
Sun |
Cream/Blue |
| Red. Jap. Barbary |
Thorns |
5 |
4 |
Sun |
White/Blue |
| Dwf. Jap. Barbary |
Thorns |
3 |
3 |
Sun |
--- |
| Bougainvillea |
Thorns |
10 |
10 |
Sun |
Red/Purple |
| Dwf. Gravillea |
Prickly Foliage |
3 |
6 |
Sun |
Red |
| Quince |
Thorns |
6 |
5 |
Sun |
Red/Yellow |
| Pampas Grass |
Prickly Foliage |
6 |
6 |
Sun |
White |
| Libson Eureka |
Thorns |
8 |
5 |
Sun |
White/Yellow |
| Bearss |
Thorns |
6 |
5 |
Sun |
White/Green |
| Hybrid Holly |
Prickly Foliage |
5 |
5 |
Sun/Shade |
White/Red |
| Upright Juniper |
Prickly Foliage |
12 |
6 |
Sun |
--- |
| Chinese Holly Grape |
Prickly Foliage |
6 |
3 |
Shade |
Yellow/Blue |
| Calif. Holly Grape |
Prickly Foliage |
5 |
4 |
Sun/Shade |
Gold/Blue |
| Mex. Palo Verde |
Thorns |
20 |
15 |
Sun |
Yellow |
| Firethorn |
Thorns |
15 |
10 |
Sun |
White/Red |
| Dwf. Firethorn |
Thorns |
4 |
10 |
Sun |
White/Red |
| Prostrate Firethorn |
Thorns |
4 |
10 |
Sun |
White/Red |
| Pomegranate |
Thorns |
10 |
6 |
Sun |
Orange/Red |
| Dwf. Pomegranate |
Thorns |
4 |
4 |
Sun |
Orange |
| Roses, Bush |
Thorns |
6 |
4 |
Sun |
Many |
| Roses, Climbing |
Thorns |
12 |
6 |
Sun |
Many |
| Gooseberry |
Thorns |
5 |
3 |
Sun/Shade |
White/Green |
| Spanish Bayonet |
Prickly Foliage |
6 |
4 |
Sun |
White |
| Dwf. Oxlosma |
Thorns |
5 |
4 |
Sun/Shade |
--- |
Outstanding Barrier Plants
| Berberis (Barberry) |
Moderate growing thorny |
| Pyracantha (Firethorn) |
Moderate growing thorny |
| Hakea |
Mean shrub invasive needs large area or wall |
| Shrub & Rugosa Rose |
California Native |
| Sterile Pampas |
Does not reseed |
| Juniper |
Slow growing |
| Ilex (Holly) |
Drought tolerant |
| Mahonia |
Good in shade, slow growing |
| Yucca |
Moderate to slow growing |
| Chaenomoles (Flowering quince) |
Slow growing ornamental |
| Elymus (Wild rye) |
Grass blue green in color, invasive
|
| Grevillea |
Sharp foliage, low maintenance, ornamental shrub |
| Lisbon Lemon |
Thorny citrus applications |
| Bougainvillea |
Vine, sunny position/location |
| Fucus Pumila (Creeping fig) |
Good cover on walls, evergreen, ideal |
| English Ivy |
Good cover, evergreen, somewhat invasive, can harbor vectors
|
| Blackberry |
Thorny, very invasive, fruit bearing |
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What is the
graffiti report process?
Level 1 - Source of Graffiti Report
Reports of graffiti may come from any of the following
sources:
Level 2 - Code Enforcement
When Code Enforcement receives the report, it
is sent to the Graffiti Abatement Program. The location of the graffiti
is inspected to see if the graffiti has been abated by the owner already.
If the graffiti is present, GAP determines if the graffiti pose an immediate
threat to the community. If the graffiti is deemed a threat, the program
summarily abates the graffiti and a fee is generated to the property
owner for abatement services. If it is not a threat, the property owners
are notified.
Level 3 - Notification
If the graffiti appears on public property, GAP forwards
the report to General Services for abatement and the reported complaint
is then closed.
If the graffiti appears on private property, GAP will
notify the agencies such as SMUD, School districts, Caltrans, Regional
Transit, Sacramento Housing Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). Then the reported
complaint is closed.
If the graffiti is on property belonging to a party
other than those agencies, the property owner is sent an Owner Notification
Letter. The letter explains they have a 10 day grace period to remove
the graffiti from their property.
Level 4 - Compliance
If the private property owner removes it within
the time limits, the report is closed. If there is no compliance with
the notification, the city will remove it at a cost to the property
owner and is closed with a service fee.
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What
is graffiti? What about its history?
Graffiti Defined
In order to understand how to identify graffiti, we
must first define what is graffiti. Graffiti comes in many forms; Websters
defines it as "a message, slogan, inscription, or drawing made
on a public surface." This definition, while adequate, lacks one
key element: the criminal aspect of graffiti.
To finish the definition, we should consider what the
California penal code says about graffiti in its vandalism section.
Code section 594(a) states "every person who maliciously defaces
with paint or any other liquid, damages, or destroys any real or personal
property not his own, is guilty of vandalism." Depending on the
amount of damage and clean up costs, graffiti vandalism could be classified
as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
It is important to remember the monetary cost to you
and me as citizens. Graffiti found on public property hurts all
citizen's pocket books. Graffiti in your neighborhood park,
on the SMUD power box, on government buildings, and on school
property costs the community service district, SMUD, the city
and county, and school districts tens of thousands of dollars to clean
up every year. These costs are passed on to us in the form of higher
assessments, higher bills, and higher taxes.
Graffiti History
The word "graffiti" comes from the Italian
word "graffio." It means "a crude inscription or drawing
scratched, painted, or sprayed on a surface, as a wall, usually to be
seen by the public." It is hard to pinpoint when or where graffiti
emerged. If writing on the walls during the time of the cave man counts,
graffiti began with prehistoric graffiti artists.
During World War II the phrase "Kilroy Was Here,"
was written and scrawled on tanks and military equipment overseas and
throughout Europe. This phrase later showed up throughout the United
States, mostly in the subways of New York City.
In the 1950s, street gangs used graffiti to mark their
territory, for self promotion and intimidation. When a rival gang entered
another gang's territory and saw, for example, "Sharks" written
several times (each time with a different name underneath), this would
show the size and strength of that gang. Initiation for a gang member
in the 1950s was to hang the prospective member off the side of a bridge.
While hanging by his ankles upside down, the member would write his
name.
With the 1960s came the invention of the "Magic
Marker." The Magic Marker was and still is the choice of many graffiti
vandals due to its ability to write on almost any surface and easy concealment.
"TAKI 183" was probably
the first well known graffiti vandal. His real name was Demetrius. He
came to the United States from Greece and settled in the community of
Washington Heights in Manhattan, New York. Demetrius met a boy named
Julio who lived nearby on 204th Street. Julio used to write his name
and his street number, "JULIO 204" wherever he went. Demetrius'
nickname was "TAKI" and he lived on 183rd Street, so Demetrius
began writing "TAKI 183" across the city of New York starting
at the age of fifteen. His first "tag" was on the side of
an ice cream truck in 1970.
Demetrius got a part time job as a messenger. While
he made his deliveries, he would write his name on every street corner
in Brooklyn. Demetrius found an art supply store on 53rd Street that
sold extra wide markers. The extra wide markers gave Demetrius more
recognition because his name stuck out from all the others who were
using regular markers.
In July of 1971, a reporter from the New York
Times interviewed "TAKI 183" and the first newspaper article
about tagging appeared. Adolescents were impressed with the publicity
and thought of him as a type of folk hero. Years later, a movie called
"TURK 182" was produced. Many of the ideas for this movie
were a direct result of Demetrius and his infamous tag, "TAKI 183.
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Are
there different types of graffiti? What are their motives? Why do they
do this to my property?
From COPS:
Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series No. 9, "Graffiti"
by Deborah Lamm Weis
| Gang
[Example: Blood, Crip, Norteño,
Sureño]
|
-Gang name or symbol, including hand signs
-Gang member name(s) or nickname(s), or sometimes a roll-call listing
of members
-Numbers
-Distinctive, stylized alphabets (block letters, Old English script)
-Key visible locations
-Enemy names and symbols (backwards, crossed out) |
-Mark turf
-Threaten violence
-Boast of achievements
-Honor the slain
-Insult/taunt other gangs |
| Common Tagger [Example: TAKI
183] |
-High-volume, accessible locations
-High-visibility, hard-to-reach locations
-May be stylized but simple name or nickname tag or symbols
-Tenacious (keep retagging) |
-Notoriety or prestige
-Defiance of authority |
| Artistic Tagger [Example: Banksy] |
-Colorful and complex pictures known as
masterpieces or pieces |
-Artistic
-Prestige or recognition |
| Conventional Graffiti: Spontaneous |
-Sporadic episodes or isolated incidents |
-Play
-Rite of passage
-Excitement
-Impulsive |
| Conventional Graffiti: Malicious or Vindictive |
-Sporadic, isolated or systematic incidents |
-Anger
-Boredom
-Resentment
-Failure
-Despair |
| Ideological |
-Offensive content or symbols
-Racial, ethnic, [heterocentric], or religious slurs
- Specific targets, such as synagogues
-Highly legible
-Slogans |
-Anger
-Hate
-Political
-Hostility
-Defiance |
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Glossary of Tagger Terms
All City Tagging all over, not just
in one area.
Battle A contest between different
taggers or crews to see who can write their tag the most times in a
certain area within a given period of time.
Bomb To put a series of large letters
on a wall usually in more than one color.
Bombing Run When a tagging crew comes
together with the express purpose of putting up as many of their tag
names and the name of their crew as they can either on public or private
property.
Buff To remove graffiti from an object.
Crew A group of taggers with their
own distinct name.
Heavens The large overhead freeway
signs. Sometimes used to refer to any high objects to tag on.
Legal Wall A place where the tagger
has permission to put up his graffiti.
Mob Putting as much graffiti on an
object as possible; usually in a short period of time.
Oner A tagger who does not belong
to a crew.
Piece An elaborate graffiti mural
put on a wall or other large object.
Piece Book A book that taggers practice
their style of graffiti writing or murals they plan to do in the future
of have already done. These books sometimes have the appearance of a
photo scrap book that have pictures of graffiti writing, murals that
a tagger, or the crew he/she belongs to, has done.
Rank Status within the crew. Usually
a veteran tagger will have some say as to what the crew will do.
Slash To cross out another tagger/crew's
name. Meant as an insult or a challenge.
Tag A nickname or the act of putting
graffiti on an object.
Tagger A person who adopts a nickname
and then puts this nickname on objects.
Take-Out To defeat another tagger/crew
in a battle.
Throw-Ups To put large bubble-style
letters on an object.
Toy A beginner or a tagger who writes
in an amateurish manner.
Wild Style A style of tagging that
exhibits overlapping letters.
Write To put up a tag or graffiti
on an object.
Writer A person who does murals (pieces);
a person who puts his tag on objects. NOTE: A person who does pieces
considers him- or herself an artist and refers to her- or himself as
a writer. They do not like to be associated with taggers. A person who
just tags can also call himself a writer.
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What are the laws regarding
graffiti in the city of Sacramento?
Legislation - Sections Pertaining to Graffiti
California
Assembly Bill 1179 (Epple)
California
Assembly Bill 2519 (Karnette)
California
Assembly Bill 2595 (Connolly)
California
DMV Vehicle Code 13202.6
California
Penal Codes 640.5 (a), (b), (c); 640.6(a), (b), and (c); 640.7 (a)
California
Penal Codes 594(*), (b) 1-4; 594.1(a) 1, (b), (c), (e); 594.2; 594.3(a),
(b); 594.4(b) 4
California
Senate Bill 583 (Lewis)
California
Senate Bill 302 (McCorquodale)
City
of Sacramento, Code, Title 8
City
of Sacramento, Code, Chapter 8.04
City
of Sacramento, Code, Chapter 8.24
City
of Sacramento, Code, Chapter 8.100
City
of Sacramento, Code, Chapter 15.152
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