Graffiti used to be a sign that gangs were in your area and were used to let other gangs know who’s “turf” an area is. Today that most likely is not the case. In most instances graffiti is the work of “taggers”. These are people who feel they have the need and the right to express themselves on any surface they can find, walls, signs, trailers, train cars; any place people will see their work. Well they are wrong; graffiti is a crime!

What do we do?

The City of Peoria has a very effective and aggressive graffiti removal team that works with property owners to get graffiti removed or painted over in 48 hours. The city cannot remove graffiti from private property without the owner’s permission. If the owner does not give the city permission to remove the graffiti, or does not respond to the contact attempts by the graffiti removal team, the matter is referred to Peoria Code Enforcement for action.

What can you do?

While the Peoria Code Enforcement, Police and Community Services Departments work closely together in dealing with graffiti, the problem can’t be solved without the help of the community.

If you see graffiti please call the Graffiti Hotline at 623-773-7094 and report the location so it can be checked. If it is reported quickly, the city can remove it quickly.

You can also make a difference in stopping this criminal activity by calling 9-1-1 when you see subjects in the act - taggers face from 4 month in jail and a $750.00 fine to 3 years in prison if arrested and convicted depending of value of loss. Tips leading to taggers can be made anonymously.

Graffiti has a negative impact on neighborhoods and the entire community. Only by working together can we make a difference in preventing and stopping graffiti.