FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The City of Fresno is determined to make graffiti disappear for good.
The police chief has created a task force to track down taggers.
If the damage is excessive taggers could face felony charges and hefty fines.
The back of these buildings off Clinton and Highway 99 are popular targets for taggers.
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In just a matter of minutes, the Fresno graffiti removal team used a coat of paint to make them vanish.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has pushed hard in every neighborhood to help beautify Fresno.
“Graffiti creates fear in our community as it is often thought to be associated with gangs within a neighborhood,” Dyer said.
Dyer says outside developers and investors are interested in Fresno, putting the city at a pivotal moment.
“Specifically the downtown and Chinatown areas, Blackstone as well as the entire urban core. We have people throughout the state that are interested in developing in Fresno,” Dyer said.
This month the Fresno Police Department created a new task force to identify, arrest, and prosecute taggers.
“People don’t know this, penal code 594, more than $400 is a felony,” said Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama.
Anyone who decides to get artistic with spray paint, if the damage is above $400 don’t expect leniency from District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp.
“They are going to be filed as felonies and we are not going to reduce those cases to misdemeanors without full restitution,” said Smittcamp. “Those offenders are going to be required to do community service and they are going to be required to participate in the cleanup.”
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City attorney Andrew Janz says parents who provide supplies to their children to paint up the town will be held accountable. Fines can go as high as $50,000.
Mayor Dyer wants everyone in the community to use the FRESGO App to report graffiti in the city.
He says 90% of the tags reported on the app are removed within 24 hours.