I just came home from a trip to the city. The only public transport near me (well, there’s a bus, but it goes every hour… which is totally not helpful) is a tram, and luckily, my line goes right to the city centre. On the way home today, I saw a very interesting sign.

Right up the back of the tram, on the door to the driver’s area, there was a large poster, which read: "You can now be fined for carrying spray paint cans". The smaller print is basically that the tram lines/police are cracking down on graffitti, and you can be fined for even carrying a spray paint can.

You may not like graffitti, but whatever your position, this poses a very intriguing question: what about us artists? I may have just come back, or am going to, a puppet workshop where spray paint has been used - like when painting foam. Alternatively, I could be a fine arts person, or a car detailer… the list of artists goes on. What if I’m just taking my spray paint home, after taking a trip to the arts and crafts store?

How will the police know? I mean, would I have to prove that I’m a legitimate artist - which isn’t as easy as it sounds - just so that I don’t get fined for carrying a spray paint can on the tram? I think the whole thing is somewhat overboard. Feel free to fine the people who are actually carrying the can visibly in their hands, or are squirming in their chairs to try and hide one that they’re using, but do you really have to fine the people who just have one in their bags? Which leads to another snake in the grass - can they search my things, just to see if I’m carrying a can?

Sad to think that so many artists out there may be in trouble just for wanting to use spray paint; even sadder that the police now think that this step is a good one.

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