Drone technology is already being used in Washington state to help fight wildfires and aid police.
Now state transportation officials will use drones to address graffiti vandalism.
Gov. Jay Inslee last week signed House Bill 1989, which directs the Washington State Department of Transportation to operate a pilot program that will test “spray drone technology” to cover up existing graffiti.
WSDOT said last year it had spent $1.4 million over a two-year span on graffiti removal and expected to spend more in the future. It cited one specific example of graffiti removal on overhead highway signs that cost the state between $40,000 and $50,000.
The bill asks WSDOT to focus on graffiti around Interstate 5, from Tacoma to Seattle, and in the north Spokane corridor.
The bill also includes use of cameras to deter and identify perpetrators.
“The explosion of graffiti in our state has become a serious concern that demands an immediate and comprehensive response,” Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia), who sponsored the bill, said in a statement. “This bill acknowledges the frustration Washingtonians feel about graffiti on our roadways and sends a clear message that enough is enough. We cannot continue allowing the actions of a few to shape the narrative of our communities.”
“Spray drones” are more commonly used in agricultural settings to spray pesticides. Some have used drones to actually make graffiti, rather than eliminate it.
