Scratching (Streetart)

Scratching (English: to scratch - scratch ) is a form of graffiti and it is the deliberate scratching ( while deliberate damage ) of glass, plastic or painted surfaces in public spaces. Particularly affected are the windows of public transport such as trains, trams and buses. These so-called Scratchiti are usually scratched with broken glass, marble stones or Nothämmern. In most cases, tags are left. Another, later emerged variant of scratchings consists in etching of the disk by filled with hydrofluoric acid marker pens ( etching). Due to the hazards of skin contact of unsuspecting passengers or cleaning staff with the acid etching is (at least in Berlin) intensively pursued.

The phenomenon came to the mid-1990s, as a teenager in the New York subway einkratzten windows. In 1997, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had it repaired 62,000 slices, which is about 2 million euro cost. Meanwhile, the MTA must change annually window for about 60-65 million euros. The late 1990s, the Scratching first appeared in Germany and has subsequently spread from various regions throughout the federal territory. Especially in Berlin, it is such a common phenomenon that the transport companies have started to coat glass surfaces with transparent film to protect the actual window glass from destruction. At regular intervals, the films are peeled off and replaced. For example, the planned S- Bahn Berlin GmbH in time for the 2006 World Cup to replace all scratched films / discs. 2003 were replaced by the S- Bahn Berlin 2325 scratched discs.

In most cases, scratching is considered vandalism or property damage. Legally, it is indisputable an offense, the punishment is, however, often difficult because the perpetrators are rarely caught in the act. Genuine Scratching is not very common, as opposed to legal graffiti.

Criminal Relevance

The Scratching on objects of any kind without the consent of the private or public owner satisfies the conditions of the property damage. In addition to the civil law, this results in a criminal relevance.

The legal norms that apply in Germany § 303 and § 304 of the Criminal Code, in Austria, § § 125 and 126, in Switzerland, the article 144 of the Criminal Code.

The use of hydrofluoric acid in the publicly accessible space is also in Germany as a crime, within the meaning of § 330a StGB - persecuted - Serious danger by releasing toxins.