In recent years an outbreak of graffiti in Santa Paula was brought under control – the city even now has an employee who concentrates on graffiti removal - but a new wave of organized taggers have struck throughout the county. So far there has been over a dozen people arrested – mostly juveniles - throughout the Santa Clara River Valley.Also cooperating in the anti-graffiti effort are area high schools and the county’s Gateway schools program. The goal of the new law enforcement crackdown is to identify, arrest and punish taggers, including paying restitution for damages.Folded into enforcement efforts are merchants who sell graffiti supplies, including spray paint, aerosol cans and/or other graffiti producing devices.The SPPD, school districts and other law enforcement agencies are providing and sharing intelligence on tagging crews, who is involved, where they live and what they drive Police personnel, school resource officers and school officials are compiling information.Incidents of vandalism are being documented with photographs to determine characteristics in lettering; the data will be used for comparison purposes. Courts now will often accept such evidence in lieu of an eyewitness, as tags by graffiti vandals can be as distinct as a handwriting sample.
Businesses cited for selling graffiti materials to minors
April 13, 2005
Santa Paula News
Three area businesses were cited after clerks sold spray paint to juveniles used as part of a sting operation, a component of an ongoing effort to eradicate graffiti, according to a Santa Paula Police spokesman.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThree area businesses were cited after clerks sold spray paint to juveniles used as part of a sting operation, a component of an ongoing effort to eradicate graffiti, according to a Santa Paula Police spokesman.Due to strict laws governing spray paint it must be kept under lock and key and only sold to those over 18 years of age. Last month SPPD Police Chief Bob Gonzales sent a letter to area merchants noting the crackdown on graffiti, and warning that businesses selling spray paint and other graffiti materials to minors would be cited.“The Santa Paula Police and other law enforcement agencies are very serious about eradicating graffiti,” said SPPD Det. Gary Marshall.There has been an outbreak of graffiti in Ventura County and law enforcement agencies – including the Oxnard and Ventura Police departments, Ventura County Sheriff’s and the District Attorney among others – have made graffiti eradication a top priority. The agencies have been working together not only to eliminate graffiti, but also to toughen the court punishment of taggers.Det. Marshall noted that law enforcement is now becoming more aggressive about taggers and merchants who sell graffiti materials. “Each merchant in town received a letter with a warning and were told that the police would be citing those who sell” graffiti materials. It’s just a matter of vigilance: “Merchants have to make sure to check the identification of those attempting to buy spray paint,” and ensure that clerks can correctly calculate birth dates.
