Inslee signs bill to combat graffiti in Washington with innovative pilot program

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill Wednesday afternoon that aims to tackle the “rampant” spread of graffiti vandalism across Washington state. House Bill 1989, which is sponsored by Rep. Andrew Barkis, will attempt to establish a pilot program designed to test technologies and techniques to hold vandals accountable and also restore the “aesthetics of public spaces through swift and efficient cleanup.” RELATED: Washington state House unanimously approves bill to hold graffiti taggers accountable The program, which will be overseen by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), includes the following: Field testing of state-of-the-art spray drone technology to cover up existing graffiti, ensuring prompt restoration of affected areas. Utilization of WSDOT-owned cameras to deter and identify perpetrators. Tolling and work safety zone enforcement cameras will not be utilized. Prioritization of the Interstate 5 Puget Sound region from Tacoma to Seattle and the north Spokane corridor for the deployment of innovative graffiti prevention techniques. The bill will require the WSDOT to submit a report that details the program’s progress to the Legislature by Dec. 1, according to officials. The report will also include the program’s funding allocation, the effectiveness of identification methods and the results of spray drone...