The Secrets of Tagging 

by Constable Wendy Hawthorne,  Greater Vancouver Transit Authority Police Service

WHAT IS A TAG?

• Tagging as we know it today got its beginnings in New York in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
• A graffiti tag has become an individual identifier adopted by writers. They develop an individual style to differentiate their tag. 
• A tag is selected often because the writer "likes the sound" of the word. It can also be chosen from the dictionary or it may be a nickname.
• A tag primarily consists of three to seven letters. 
• Lower Mainland graffiti taggers have taken to writing #1 or writing "one" or "oner" after their tag (e.g. "westoner", "westone", or "west1"). "ONER" is a graffiti term for a tagger who has no tagging crew signature.
• To active taggers their name and tag are synonymous.

TAGGER PROFILE

Sex

• The large majority of taggers are male.
• Females are most often associated with "bubble gum" graffiti (e.g. Laurie love Jim)
• Females are more interested in having their names involved with graffiti.

Age

• For tagging the age generally ranges from 11 to 25 years.
• Most taggers get their beginning in grade 8 and those in their 20's are often a "developed tagger", preferring railcars and walls that offer a canvas for their work.

Background 

• Taggers do no reflect any specific socio-economic or racial background.
  

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WHY DO THEY TAG?

Recognition

• Low self esteem
• Peer recognition 
• For recognition, a distorted view of "fame". See "Fame" video by click here.
  
• See it in the community and want to try it too.

Anti-Authority

• A way to rebel against authority
• To "get out their aggression"

Artistic Ability

• Some are very talented artistically and this is their way to express themselves and develop and practice their ability.
• Some think they are artistic.

Addiction

• Becomes an obsessive-compulsive disorder : they are addicted to "Getting Up", which is tagging throughout the community. , a restorative justice program, treats tagging as an addiction.

EVOLUTION OF A TAGGER 

Beginner

• Select a tag name
• Practice writing tag over and over (doodle).
• Write on books and personal items.
• May begin to tag in the community, referred to by taggers as "Getting Up". Common tagging areas are schools, buses, mail and paper box, etc.
• Will tag if opportunity presents itself. 
• May see the term "Toy" written next to new tags, "Toy" means inexperienced or incompetent tagger.

Developing

• Will have established a unique style to his/her tag
• May start a "piece book", a graffiti practice book
• Associate with other taggers
• May form or join a tagging crew
• Will tag more frequently and in more difficult places (roof tops, under bridges)
• Will try "throw ups", balloon or bubble style two-colour murals 
• Will go out late at night (dusk to dawn) for the express purpose of tagging
• strive to be "all city", which is a graffiti term for having one's tag visible over a large area, such as the Lower Mainland.

Practiced - Harcore

• Will begin doing more "piecing", which is an elaborate mural with many colours
• Will have a very elaborate "piece book", with "pieces' outlined
• Has all the graffiti tools (spray paints, magazines, photographs of work, paint masks, etching items, etc.
• Pinnacle of expression for a tagger is achieved by "piecing", a painting or mural done with spraypaint in graffiti style (short for masterpiece", or bombing, which is a multi-coloured piece or crew name in large bubble letters.
• Will look for highly visible locations to "showcase" their mural work such as rail cars, buildings, along transit routes, rooftops, etc.
• Carries camera to photography graffiti.

• A group of active taggers
• A crew with anywhere from 2 to 12 members
• Most common local crews have 3 to 7 members
• Occasionally a tagger will form their own crew (only one person)
• A tagging crew name is usually two to four words (i.e. "MBK" for Master Bomb Klan or "TK" for Twisted Kidz 
• For the Lower Mainland, most crew names are three words. The crew will write their crew name next to their individual tag on a wall. 

HOW TO SPOT A TAGGER?

• Clothing is baggie and loose (khaki is favoured); baggie sweatshirts with hoods and baseball hats.
• Pants with pockets for felt markers (cargo pants ideal)
• Backpack full of spray paints and graffiti tools
• Out late at night, and early morning. Taggers work mostly under cover of darkness, dawn to dusk.
• Graffiti doodling on personal items (school books, skateboards, under the brim of their baseball hat, etc.)
• Graffiti and hip hop posters up in room and read graffiti magazines
• Have a wide variation of markers for graffiti and "Hello My Name Is" stickers and spray paint 
• Multiple spray heads. Caps, fat, skinny refer to interchangable spray can nozzles to allow for various spray width and coverage.
• Has a sketchbook (piece book) for practice
• School books have a repetitive scrawling (graffiti) and or cartoon-like drawings on them.
• "Racking", the graffiti term for stealing, shoplifting spraypaint, markers or graffiti supplies
• Carries camera and photograph graffiti. 

WHEN A TAGGER IS IDENTIFIED

There are different options when a tagger is identified. Each tagger must be dealt with on an individual basis to determione what will be the most efficient way to proceed. This is dependant on what information you have and what resources you have available.

Criminal Code Charge (Mischief Under $5,000 - Section 430 CCC (1) (a)

When a graffiti tagger is caught doing graffiti, it is always encouraged that charges be laid. If charges are not pursued, the tagger will view themselves as "getting away with it", and that it is okay..."I just won't get caught again". Treating a tagger as "just a kid doing graffiti on a wall...no harm done, (s)he can clean it off", only re-enforces the attitude that it is not a crime and not a serious problem. In many cases,nothing could be further from the truth.

If a tagger is a developing tagger, then there is an option of diversion or restorative justice to make them accountable for their action. In many cases this can be a deterent.

For the developing tagger and practiced tagger it is very important to pursue charges. This will allow for probation conditions to restrict their actions and their further tagging activity. At the time of arrest, if known samples are seized for exhibits (piece book, books with tags written on them), these can be used with a document expert to pursue subsequent charges of mischief throughout the community.

The following are recommendations that can be submitted to Crown Counsel.

Seek restitution: hold the offenders financial responsible for their vandalism so that they understand the cost to the victim/public.

Get Conditions: Restrict their activities

• Conditions help to serve as a deterrent for the offender to continue tagging.
• No contact (if caught with other taggers)
• Not to possess any spray paint, markers, tools or implements that could conceivably be used for the purpose of graffiti vandalism.
• Curfew, so that the tagger cannot be out after dark and in the early morning 
• Must attend all regularly scheduled classes

Restorative Justice or Diversion

These are excellent alternatives where the investigator may feel there would be a hesitation to proceed with charges (i.e. first time offender, graffiti viewed as minor on public property)

• Seek restitution
• Request letter of apology to victim
• Community hours (involved in community anti-graffiti programs)

Informal Processes

When there is not sufficient evidence to proceed with charges, the informal process allows for an option that has proven to be effective in confronting developing and practiced taggers. This has been a very effective program working with schools. The suspect is confronted with information obtained and questioned. A locker check, check of his/her books, and area check around residences are great indicators of whether or not a suspect is an active tagger.

Each Tagger Should be Dealt with on an Individual Basis

• Their age
• School attendance
• Home environment (dysfunctional or strong parental support) 
• Attitude

EDUCATION IS KEY

It would appear that many of our active taggers display a lack of social conscience or understanding that writing a tag on someone else's property is not only a violation of the Criminal Code but an offence against the property owners. The small business owner has to clean up his property every morning; a public transit system has to replaced etched windows; a school board cannot buy new computer equipment or sports suppliles because it is spending a quarter of a million dollars each school year to clean up vandalism. Who is the real victim: the community. We must make our active taggers understand that they are part of the community and, therefore, they are the victims themselves.