Graffiti Along Stockton Highways Costing Taxpayers

Bora Kim
Reporting

(CBS13) STOCKTON, Calif. What you see along highway 99 in Stockton is what motorist see everyday. It's not the kind of welcome sign most cities would be proud of.

"It's disgusting, it makes the city look dirty and run over by criminal types,” said motorist John Wise.

Near the Cross Town Freeway you'll see more than the usual share. Graffiti is plastered everywhere, and this time it stretches great distances, along concrete dividers and sound walls.

It's popping up faster than it can be removed.

"If its vulgar nature we'll remove it within a few days, otherwise three weeks until our crews can get to it,” said Troy Bowers of Caltrans.

The concrete canvases have become so popular among taggers, Caltrans crews are trying something new.

Today they've hooked up a sandblaster to a compressor, and used sand not paint to get to those hard to reach places, which is virtually everywhere.

"A lot of the problems are where it’s located. There's a potential we have to stop traffic so crews can get up to remove the graffiti,” said Bowers.

"It's basically tag names, they express themselves and their crews,” added Bowers.

Expressions paid for by the taxpayers, last year Caltrans spent about $18,000 on graffiti removal. That much was spent just in the last six months this year.

"It's pretty bad, I think people should find something else to do,” said Stockton resident Christine Casillas.

For Caltrans now have plenty to do.

In addition to Caltrans expense, Stockton also spends $500,000 annually to remove graffiti. The City Attorney is currently drafting the toughest anti-graffiti ordinance the state allows to combat the problem.