Whether it’s ink-pen scrawl or a Technicolor masterpiece, graffiti in Snohomish County faces a new crackdown.
A proposal by County Executive Aaron Reardon would first ask – and then require – property owners to quickly clean up graffiti.
If new rules are approved by the County Council, failure to scrub away or paint over graffiti could bring $100-a-day fines for property owners.
Also, taggers who are caught with spray paint or big markers could face criminal charges and be financially liable for damage under the proposed rules.
Graffiti is a blight on the community, Reardon said.
“Graffiti is not art,” Reardon said. “It is indeed vandalism, a form of vandalism that also increases criminal activity in the area and erodes and degrades the sense of security in that area.”
Reardon’s proposed county ordinance also would raise the stakes and declare graffiti a public nuisance detrimental to public health. The rules would apply to unincorporated areas of the county.
Graffiti cases are difficult to prosecute under current laws because damage has to be proven, said Deanna Dawson, who advises Reardon on criminal justice issues. The new rules will help to put more responsibility on taggers.
If approved, property owners would receive a letter and a brochure asking for graffiti to be cleaned up within three days.
Failing that, the county would label the property a nuisance and give three more days for the cleanup. Otherwise, the county would have the power to step in and clean up the property and charge for the work.
Graffiti isn’t Public Enemy No. 1, but officials are watchful, County Council Chairman Dave Gossett said.
“I think it’s a growing problem,” Gossett said. “It’s potentially an indicator of gang activity, and it’s important to get on top of that right at the beginning.”
The proposed rules come at a time when law enforcement officials are gathering information on the growing signs of gang activity in the area.
Years before he was county executive, Reardon said, he developed and ran the anti-graffiti program for the business group in downtown Seattle.
Graffiti breeds crime in a community, and cleanliness promotes public safety, he said. He said he plans a summit later this month on the topic.
On Tuesday afternoon, Reardon, county and state officials and Explorer Scouts from the county sheriff’s office painted over more than 1,000 feet of graffiti on a noise wall along the Interurban Trail near Mariner High School.
“We want the vandals to know their activities are not welcome in Snohomish County,” Reardon said. “This government takes it seriously.”
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
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