Graffiti Resources
If you see tagging in progress, call
911 to alert the police. If
you see suspicious activity -- for example, kids carrying spray
paint cans -- call Keizer’s non-emergency line: (503) 390-2000
To report existing graffiti, we would prefer you call Keizer’s
non-emergency line: (503) 390-2000. If you don’t want to
call, you can report the graffiti on Keizer’s web site by
clicking here
or at the Department.
To obtain free paint to cover graffiti, call the graffiti
abatement program: (503) 588-6243 or the Marion County Recycling
Center: (503) 588-5169.
Residents can also get graffiti abatement information on web
sites including:
-
Salem
-
Marion County
- Graffiti Hurts
Organization
Why Should I Report Graffiti?
There's a positive benefit derived from moving quickly to
report, document, and cleanup graffiti vandalism. A speedy
report followed by a cleanup makes a repeat offense much less
likely, and gets our community looking better right away.
Taggers know people will be watching much more closely from then
on. The likelihood of getting reported and going through the
expense and humiliation of court is a good deterrent.
Business people don't have a moment to spare. The
nuisance and expense of repeated taggings can often be avoided.
A quick report and cleanup is one of the very best deterrents of a
visit by taggers. The same is true for homeowners.
What happens after your report is received? A Keizer
officer or the City’s Code Enforcement Officer will contact the
property owner advising them of the problem, and what they can do
to help. Photos and reports are taken at the scene.
If there is no response and no cleanup is made by the property
owner, he or she will be contacted again. This time it's
still a courtesy call, but it is also a prelude to the City
enforcing Keizer's Anti-Graffiti Ordinance.
Homeowner tips to prevent graffiti
- Incorporate shrubs, thorny plants and vines to restrict
access to residence walls, fences, sheds, garages, and other
graffiti targets.
- Add or improve lighting around your property to promote
natural surveillance.
- Ask your community to install lighting in neighborhood areas
that are dark and often hit with graffiti.
- Consider a home security system and post signs that such a
system is in operation.
SOURCE: Graffiti Hurts
Organization
How To Remove Graffiti
Painted surfaces: (walls and buildings)
- Color match to original color if possible. If not
possible, repaint entire surface or square area. For
example: paint entire fence board(s), not just spot or outline
of graffiti.
- Prepare surface by cleaning, drying, and sanding if
necessary. If several coats of paint have already been
applied, sanding may be necessary to remove old paint.
- Select the right paint for your surface. Acrylic latex
is best for wood, concrete, block walls, and brick. Call
your local paint specialist for advice if you are unsure.
FREE recycled latex paint is available (in several shades)
through Marion County Public Works at, 3250 Deerpark Drive SE, off
Gaffin Rd., HWY 22. Call (503) 588-5169.
Sand or Water Blasting and Pressure Washing: (unpainted
concrete surfaces: curbs/cinderblock walls)
- Start with the gentlest method first as damage can easily
occur.
- Follow the recommendations for historical buildings (call
(503) 588-6173 for information).
Trees:
Do not use lacquer thinner or paint. Try washing with a
garden hose. You might apply mineral spirits and let it sit
for 5-10 minutes, then wash with water. Contact a nursery
for other suggestions.
Sidewalks:
Try using a wire brush. If that doesn't work, try lacquer
thinner or pressure washing (one square at a time).
Vehicles:
Use a solvent based cleaner that can be obtained from hardware or
home improvement stores. Be aware that these cleaners are
likely to remove the wax from your vehicle's paint as well as the
graffiti.
Chemical Products: (metal/aluminum poles, boxes, signs)
- Make sure the cleaner is appropriate for the graffiti agent
and affected surface(s).
- The solution should not leave residue or film that will
damage the affected surface(s).
- Follow manufacturer's specifications to avoid dangers to
personal health and affected surface(s).
Don't Want To Clean Your Brushes Every Time?
If you are working on a continual problem, you can put the roller
or brush in a plastic bag, or wrap it in plastic wrap and put it
in the refrigerator. It will last for months. If you
are using a 5 gallon bucket and the roller will fit, leave the
roller in the bucket and reseal it.
Graffiti Removal Chart
Etching - Etching may be repairable on some glass (seek
out a professional); replace glass.
Adhesives - Scrape away as much of the adhesive as
possible; use nail polish remover or acetone-based cleaner to
remove remaining residue. Be aware that acetone-based
solvents can soften plastics.
| Surface Type |
Removal of Spray
Paint and Similar Materials
(markers, shoe polish, lip stick, stencils, etc.) |
| Aluminum
Siding, Fiberglass |
Paint remover
(sparingly); rinse with water |
| Glass |
Razor blade to
scrape off; can also use paint thinner |
| Masonry
(includes brick, marble, stone, tile, granite, and concrete) |
Power washing with
low pressure; sand or soda blasting (may create a shadow);
paint remover or chemical graffiti remover/solvent applied
with brush and rinse with water; paint over. |
| Historic
Masonry or Other Valuable Structures |
Seek out a
professional; get the National Park Service Brief on removing
graffiti from historic masonry.
|
| Metal |
Paint thinner or
chemical graffiti remover/solvent and rub with steel wool or
sandpaper and rinse; power washing; paint over. |
| Pavement |
Chemical remover and
power washing; soda blasting. |
| Street Signs |
Chemical remover
(make sure it does not remove reflective coating). |
| Stucco |
Paint
remover/chemical remover and rinse with pressure washer; paint
over. |
| Utility Boxes |
Chemical remover
with cloth or scrubber. |
| Vinyl Siding |
Chemical solvents
sparingly as they may remove the vinyl coating; repaint with
primer first power washing with low pressure; sanding;
repainting. |
| Wood |
On painted,
unweathered wood can try mineral spirits; power washing low
pressure; sanding; repainting. |
| |
SOURCE:
Graffiti Hurts Organization |
Prevent Graffiti: Get the Facts
Graffiti
Hurts Organization
1. What is graffiti?
You’ve probably seen graffiti somewhere in your community.
It’s the words, colors, and shapes drawn or scratched on
buildings, overpasses, train cars, desks, and other surfaces.
It’s done without permission and it’s against the law. The
FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program considers graffiti
vandalism.
The term graffiti comes from the Greek word graphein, which means,
“to write.” Graffiti today ranges from simple, one-color
monikers (like a nickname), called “tags,” repeated on many
surfaces to complex compositions of several colors.
2. How is a community really “hurt” by
graffiti?
Graffiti sends the signal that nobody cares, attracting other
forms of crime and street delinquency to the neighborhood.
Graffiti drains tax dollars. Funds that could be used for
schools, roads, parks, and other community improvements, are used
for graffiti clean up.
Graffiti decreases a resident’s feeling of safety.
Neighborhoods with graffiti see a decrease in property values,
loss of business growth and tourism, and reduced ridership on
transit systems.
3. What is the best way to prevent graffiti?
The most effective way to prevent graffiti is to remove it
promptly. While this may be difficult, studies show that
removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of
reoccurrence.
Consistent enforcement of local ordinances with strict penalties
for graffiti vandalism is also effective. In many
communities citizens can report graffiti using a designated 800
number. Citizens can also “adopt-a-spot” and keep it
graffiti free. Or, turn a graffiti-plagued wall into a
mural. Paint-brush murals are almost never hit with graffiti.
4. Do “legal walls” really work?
Communities that have tried “legal” walls, an area that
permits graffiti, find them ineffective at preventing graffiti.
Over a dozen cities in California, Illinois, and other states have
all found them to be “a failure”.
While well intentioned, legal walls send a mixed message and often
cause more harm than good. They may appear to work at first,
but after a period of time, the surrounding areas also become
covered with graffiti. Data also shows no decrease in
arrests for graffiti in cities where there are legal walls.
5. How do you remove graffiti?
There are several ways to remove graffiti. The best
method for removal is determined by the amount of graffiti, its
location, and the vandalized surface. The low-cost method is
the paintout, which is simply to paint over the graffiti.
Many city graffiti abatement personnel use solvents or chemicals
to remove graffiti. Pressure washing the surface is also
used.
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