Graffiti costly around Reno, but tracking it presents problem

SPARKS -- A new report says graffiti continues to be a major problem around Reno.

The report found that in 2007-08 the city of Reno removed more than 12,000 markings, the city of Sparks more than 19,800 and Washoe County more than 200.

The 2008 Report on the Status of Gangs published in June by the Regional Gang Unit says cleaning up the paint cost the city of Reno more than $379,000.

"I cannot even begin to count all the gang monikers," said Benny Imbert of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. "Gangs start fights by crossing out each other's names."

Imbert said about 95 percent of those suspected of graffiti crimes are juveniles.

In an effort to track graffiti in the area, Washoe County and the cities of Reno and Sparks paid $9,000 each to join the regional Graffiti Tracking System in February.

Sparks officials say the tracking system hasn't worked as well as the city had hoped. They decided not to renew the graffiti tracker contract because some of the pictures weren't being properly labeled or identified, said Mike Biselli, Sparks' public works department maintenance manager.