Sgt. Doug Carpenter of the Salem Police Department said that placing cameras in areas with a high risk of graffiti activity may be a good deterrent.

There are several types of graffiti artists around Salem. There are random taggers and there are gangs who mark their turf.

Although neighborhood associations may have to raise 50 percent of the cost of these cameras they may not always see one in their area.

The cameras can be moved from location to location depending on the need and severity.

According to Sgt. Carpenter, minors are responsible for 70 percent of Salem's graffiti.

"If we get a picture and it's good enough quality, we could take it to a School Resource Officer or school administrator and maybe get an ID," he said.

The cameras will cost residents an estimated $5000 but the city is looking into grants to help fund a portion of that.

What about privacy?  

"The cameras would be used as another tool to stop crime and would not be utilized in a manner that infringes on the public's right to privacy," Sgt. Carpenter said.

Most graffiti happens within a very short time frame.

"It takes less than 30 seconds to tag 100 square feet," Sgt. Carpenter said. "Graffiti is a fast crime."

Sgt. Carpenter said that state law would dictate what happens to the footage and some cameras record over footage after a short period of time.
"If no crime occurs then it is unlikely anyone will view the footage," he said.

At the moment the City of Salem has no codes to require businesses to stop the selling of spray paint to minors. Portland has an ordinance that requires ID before the purchase of paint to prevent graffiti. This method has not been very effective due to outlying communities not having the same ordinance.

Salem's Graffiti Task Force has made recommendations to local businesses to limit the sale of spray paint and markers to minors hoping to curb the problem.

Scott Cantonwine, the President and CEO of Cascade Warehouse said his buildings had been vandalized by graffiti several times. He said he sees it as more of a nuisance.

"The problem is that employees have to stop their normal jobs to clean up the damage," he said.

The building he said gets hit the most is on Cherry Avenue near the railroad tracks.

"If I owned a brick building I would feel more strongly about it but I have a tin building," he said.

Cantonwine said he would like to see a greater restriction on selling paint. However, he hopes a solution is possible without it.

"If people would just police [their own areas] then there would be no need," he said.

For more information about the cameras contact the Salem Police Department at (503) 588-6123.