Graffiti News

New Form Of Tagging Worse Than Spray Paint Graffiti

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The City of Columbus has a problem with graffiti and now there is a new form of tagging — and it can be more difficult to remove than spray paint.

The activity is sometimes linked to gangs that are marking their territory, NBC 4‘s David Wayne reported.

The relatively new form of tagging involves gangs using postal stickers to mark their territory, and street signs are prime targets.

Traditional tagging involves spray paint that leaves a shadow after it is power washed. The stickers can be worse.

“They have to use a special solvent to clean them off. That solvent removes the reflective surface off the city street signs, said Dave Southan, a Clintonville Area Commission member.

Southan is fighting back and he’s working to increase penalties for those who are caught tagging.

In Columbus, the maximum penalty is generally 300 hours of community service. Southan wants a penalty of 2,000 hours, modeled after a Cleveland law.

“It will make a believer out of these kids. If they make it 2,000 hours, then these kids are going to think twice,” Southan said.

That kind of punishment would no doubt have support from residents and business owners, some of who say they’re fed up with tagging of any type.

In an effort to reduce tagging, one area neighborhood association has set up a graffiti arrest reward fund at Chase Bank. It is similar to Crime Stoppers, where money is given to people who turn in suspects who are later convicted.