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)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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)

1. Start with the gentlest method first as damage can easily occur.
2. 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)

1. Make sure the cleaner is appropriate for the graffiti agent and affected surface(s).
2. The solution should not leave residue or film that will damage the affected surface(s).
3. 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.

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.