Graffiti popping up on YouTube Eyewitness News' Kemberly Richardson
(New York - WABC, November 13, 2006) - Subway vandals are now getting a new audience, an international audience. That's because video of the vandalism is now being posted on the popular web site, YouTube.com.

It's a slickly produced, nearly three minute look at a graffiti vandal in action. The person behind the camera catches his every move as he boldly scratches his tag into cars on the R train.
What has many city officials now concerned is where you can find this in your face videotape.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., (D-Queens): "This is not about art it's about notoriety, that's why they put names on walls and that's why put on you tube can get some fame."

Wildly popular websites like YouTube are now the platform of choice for a whole new crop of aggressive taggers. Even though the train was crowded, this vandal was not shy about leaving his mark as the camera rolled.

Whoever taped this, did blur the person's face knowing this kind of activity is against the law.

The Internet posting is getting a lot of attention: close to 300 viewers have seen it and give it 4 out of 5 stars. One person even asked the vandal what he used to scratch his initials onto the car.

And so we rode the R and within seconds saw loads of similar graffiti.

Authorities set aside considerable manpower and money to keep the trains clean and today the MTA issued this statement: "It is unthinkable that a brazen group of vandals can, in full view of passengers, deface a subway car and then document that unlawful act on videotape to be displayed over the Internet."

But officials say it's just a matter of time before this scheme backfires and lands taggers behind bars.

(Copyright 2006 WABC-TV)