It would seem the war against graffiti is being won. Anyone who has driven around the city recently may find it a little harder to spot the illegal art work. That is due to a couple of programs designed to curb “tagging,” as it is called. The tagging would be a lot worse if not for the efforts of 
local businesses, the downtown safety patrol and a city bylaw that requires property owners to keep their buildings graffiti free. Through the middle of August, the downtown safety patrol will continue to remove graffiti at the request of property owners. All property owners have to do is contact the safe communities unit and provide release forms allowing the safety patrol to paint over the illegal spray paint. Owners who do not ask for help must remove the graffiti on their own as per a city bylaw. Clint Kanester, with the city bylaw department, said for the most part, businesses are taking care of graffiti themselves and no tickets have been issued under the bylaw. Refusing to remove graffiti could net the property owner a $200 fine and Kanester said he knows of just two businesses that are not being cooperative with the community policing office in their efforts to eradicate graffiti. The city can also paint over the graffiti and recoup the money from the property owner. Anyone caught tagging will be fined $500. They have 14 days to appeal the fine, after that it is considered an admission of guilt.
local businesses, the downtown safety patrol and a city bylaw that requires property owners to keep their buildings graffiti free. Through the middle of August, the downtown safety patrol will continue to remove graffiti at the request of property owners. All property owners have to do is contact the safe communities unit and provide release forms allowing the safety patrol to paint over the illegal spray paint. Owners who do not ask for help must remove the graffiti on their own as per a city bylaw. Clint Kanester, with the city bylaw department, said for the most part, businesses are taking care of graffiti themselves and no tickets have been issued under the bylaw. Refusing to remove graffiti could net the property owner a $200 fine and Kanester said he knows of just two businesses that are not being cooperative with the community policing office in their efforts to eradicate graffiti. The city can also paint over the graffiti and recoup the money from the property owner. Anyone caught tagging will be fined $500. They have 14 days to appeal the fine, after that it is considered an admission of guilt.Downtown Vernon Association executive director
Earl Hansen said he is “delighted” with the cooperation the DVA has with community policing, which he and Kanester credit with putting 
the biggest dent in the graffiti problem. Downtown safety patrol members will be blitzing the city centre Friday and Saturday painting over and removing graffiti after spray paint enthusiasts left their mark on the city. “It is one of those things that goes in spurts,” said Hansen. “One of the important things is to deal with it as quickly as possible. If it‘s left, it‘s almost like an invitation to more taggers.” Terry Pakenham, with the safe communities unit, said they are actively documenting all graffiti. Pakenham said there does not seem to be any pattern to the graffiti or any one particular tagger being more active than any other. Pakenham said 600 tags have been identified so far, but that does not mean hundreds of taggers are running lose in the city. He said the majority of the tagging is being done by a handful of people. “We‘ve got about a dozen people out there doing it,” said Pakenham
Earl Hansen said he is “delighted” with the cooperation the DVA has with community policing, which he and Kanester credit with putting 
the biggest dent in the graffiti problem. Downtown safety patrol members will be blitzing the city centre Friday and Saturday painting over and removing graffiti after spray paint enthusiasts left their mark on the city. “It is one of those things that goes in spurts,” said Hansen. “One of the important things is to deal with it as quickly as possible. If it‘s left, it‘s almost like an invitation to more taggers.” Terry Pakenham, with the safe communities unit, said they are actively documenting all graffiti. Pakenham said there does not seem to be any pattern to the graffiti or any one particular tagger being more active than any other. Pakenham said 600 tags have been identified so far, but that does not mean hundreds of taggers are running lose in the city. He said the majority of the tagging is being done by a handful of people. “We‘ve got about a dozen people out there doing it,” said Pakenham 
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