Seattle to consider issuing $1k fines for illegal graffiti
Seattle to consider issuing $1k fines for illegal graffiti
A new proposed city ordinance is taking aim at those responsible for illegal graffiti in the city of Seattle.
SEATTLE - A new proposed city ordinance is taking aim at those responsible for illegal graffiti in the city of Seattle.
The city attorney's office is hoping a new proposal helps to cut down on the damage, by cranking up the consequences.
According to that proposal, it could cost $1,000 per violation plus cleanup costs.
But, if there's more than one violation, the fines and damages could stretch upwards to the $10,000 range.
What they're saying:
In the U-District, REV Delivery employees Ashley Chamburs and Andrew Weber pack up snacks for college kids daily.
"We kind of operate as a gas station or convenience store, but we deliver straight to your house," said Weber, a REV employee.
The duo delivers from the REV office on University Way.
"Ramen for that quick dinner fix, we all need it," said Weber.
They get a fresh look at the community while on the go, and can see the latest impacts of graffiti, which can pop up overnight.
"I definitely see it, but I’ve never seen someone in the act," said Chamburs.
"I would say there is like graffiti kind of everywhere," said Weber.
FOX 13 recently reported on taggers that were caught on camera across the street, spray-painting on a community mural.
Video shows taggers covering beloved Seattle U-District mural in graffiti
A beloved mural in the U-District was covered in graffiti this weekend with a crew of vandals caught on camera defacing the painting.
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison says it's so prolific in Seattle, a new ordinance is being proposed to take more action.
"This new civil enforcement tool would help be able to closely connect consequences with conduct," said Davison.
She says it would authorize civil action against illegal taggers in Seattle Municipal Court.
The fine would be around $1,000 per violation, plus labor and material costs to clean up the damage, with the chance for monetary damages to be converted to community services hours in some cases.
"If you don’t want to pay for that cleanup, then you can do it yourself," said Davison.
City leaders say there were more than 28,000 cases of graffiti and vandalism last year alone, costing the city $6 million to clean up.
"I don’t think it’s going to change how much it’s done," said Chamburs.
"Realistically, I don’t really think it will make a difference, because I just can’t imagine that many people get caught in the act of doing graffiti in the first place," said Weber.
Davison said Tuesday that the civil enforcement section would focus on the most prolific taggers who do most of the damage city-wide.
The Source: Information in this story came from Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.
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