DFW-area police work fast to wipe away graffiti

If warm weather is here to stay, taggers can't be far behind.

But area police say local graffiti abatement programs should be able to cover the work of the taggers or graffiti "artists."

Arlington, Euless, North Richland Hills and Richland Hills have such programs to help property owners remove the drawings or markings.

"Our goal is to have it covered up within 48 hours," North Richland Hills Detective Mickey Shelley said. "If it goes any longer, taggers might think it's OK to do."

The 'artists'

Area police say graffiti is crafted by two types of people: gang members and taggers. Generally, taggers are less violent than gang members and create more artistic works with various colors. They paint on freeway overpass signs, water towers and billboards.

To tag freeway overpasses, taggers sometimes have their friends hold them upside down by their feet as they draw.

Gang members put up graffiti to threaten rivals, mark their territory or to intimidate neighborhood residents. Generally, their work is more primitive and sometimes can be read more easily than graffiti done by taggers.

Against the law

Area police noted that any type of graffiti is illegal.

When caught, taggers could be issued Class C misdemeanor tickets that carry fines up to $500. In cases where taggers have caused more than $200,000 in property damage, they could be arrested and charged with a first-degree felony.

"They are difficult to catch sometimes," Richland Hills Police Chief Barbara Childress said. "But there are times when you can recognize their work."

In cities with graffiti abatement programs, crews have various methods to remove or clean graffiti.

"Crews will work with property owners on how best to get the graffiti off," Euless police Lt. John Williams said. "Here, crews sandblast, water-blast or use paint to get rid of graffiti."

Stopping it

Several Tarrant County cities have graffiti abatement programs for residents. The cities with the program include:

Arlington, www.arlingtontx.gov, under Free Services; or call 817-459-6777

Euless, call 817-685-1630.

North Richland Hills, www.nrhtx.com/dept_ police_graffiti.aspx or call 817-427-7000.

Richland Hills, 817-299-1880.

Other programs

Watauga will cover up graffiti on businesses and bridges, but not homes.

Trophy Club allows people in community service projects to cover up graffiti in their city.

Source: Tarrant County police departments