Constant battle to remove graffiti in Colorado Springs

Whether you’re driving on the highway or walking our local trails, in all likelihood you’ve noticed a few not so nice things vandalized on walls or buildings.

From January through May of this year, the Colorado Springs Neighborhood Services Division has removed or covered over 1,500 graffiti markings, which is about ten per day.

Pedro Laumbach, Senior Maintenance Technician with Colorado Springs Code Enforcement said, “We monitor everything we cover up, we create cases for it. And if caught, you can be charged and be given a fine and/or jail time.”

There are two main ways of removing graffiti: sandblasting the markings, which can be incredibly effective on certain surfaces, or painting directly over the vandalism.

From covering up gang signs to smiley faces, the number one way to deter vandals is to report it as soon as possible.

“There’s only eight of us with Neighborhood Services, whether they call our hotline or report it online, every little submission helps,” said Laumbach.

You can report graffiti by calling 719-634-5713 or go to Coloradosprings.gov and fill out a complaint form.