Los Angeles County Seeks To Counter Graffiti Vandals During Summer Months

While school is out and the long days of summer turn into hot nights, graffiti vandals can become more active. The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works wants County residents to know that it continues to offer graffiti removal services in unincorporated areas throughout the County.

To report graffiti in unincorporated areas, call the County’s Graffiti Hotline at (800) 675-4357, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or go online to http://dpw.lacounty.gov

and click on the “Stop Graffiti” link under featured items on the right side of the homepage. When graffiti is reported online, you can even upload photos and check the progress of your request. Once a graffiti removal request is submitted, Public Works strives to meet a 48-hour turnaround for street graffiti removal and 72-hour turnaround for flood channel graffiti removal. In the last year alone, Public Works has received nearly 40,000 reports of graffiti removal throughout the County.

In the event that a graffiti removal request is reported that may not be the responsibility of Public Works, you will be directed to the appropriate agency to report your request. Other agencies that deal with graffiti removal are: Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Caltrans, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Metrolink, United States Post Office, Southern California Edison, or one of the 88 Cities within Los Angeles County.

Graffiti removal is a constant problem throughout particular hotspots areas throughout the County, especially during the summer months. Many efforts are being made to help deter youngsters from contributing to the graffiti problem.

Totally Against Graffiti (T.A.G.) is an initiative of the Department of Public Works Graffiti Abatement Program, and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The objective of the program is to educate students and their parents of the cost and consequences of graffiti, increasing apprehension of offenders and reducing the visibility of graffiti in neighborhoods. Prevention and timely removal of graffiti addresses urban blight, which enhances the quality and attractiveness of neighborhoods for residents and businesses. Public Works contracted with KCBS Marketing and Viacom to design this very aggressive community outreach and educational program to help combat graffiti. In 2003 T.A.G. was named one of the most successful public works programs in the nation, state and county by the National Association of Counties. To get more information about T.A.G. go to www.4tagla.com/best.htm