New Form of Graffiti in Utah, the “Slap Game,” Still Vandalism
A new form of graffiti has started to spring up across the Salt Lake Valley. Vandals are using postal service sticky labels to get their “tags” out there. However, even though it isn’t the traditional spray paint, law enforcement is still considering this vandalism.
“Sending” a Message
This new form of vandalism is being called the “slap game” and is effective to the vandals because they can take their time to create the message on the postage labels, but they don’t have to spend a lot of time at the scene of the crime. They simply write their message, draw their art, or create their “tag” and then just “slap” it on buildings, windows or signs.
According to West Valley police detective Mike Lynes, “They’re used to get a graffiti artist’s name out there.”
The problem is that even though the stickers affect a smaller area than the spray paint (which is still more prevalent according to Lynes), they are harder to remove and leave chemical residues even after taken off which will continue to damage the surface.
An Issue of Supply and Demand
The labels which are being used for this particular form of vandalism are easily obtained in U.S. Post Office lobbies for free in various sizes. According to U. S. Postal Service spokeswoman Margaret Putnam, “We can manage the quantity of those labels in our lobbies. That’s what we’re going to do almost immediately.” However, Putnam went on to say that they can’t eliminate them entirely because they are used on a daily basis by postal customers. They can only try to limit the quantities available at any given point.
Vandalism Penalties
According to Detective Lynes, graffiti is one of the largest property crimes in the West Valley area, and it is a problem that causes thousands of dollars in damages each week. As we mentioned in last week’s post (click here), the punishment for vandalism (also known as “criminal mischief”) depends on the severity of the damage and can range from a class B misdemeanor up to a second degree felony. For juvenile offenders, most often the punishment is to pay restitution. However they may also receive additional fines, probation or even a sentence to a juvenile detention center.
If your child has been charged with vandalism or another form of criminal mischief, it is important to contact a juvenile defense attorney. Even though this particular newer form of vandalism appears more artistic, prosecutors are treating it with the same level of seriousness as gang-related graffiti. Make sure you have a juvenile defense attorney on your side who will look our for your child’s best interests.
