BUS VANDALS, TAKE WARNING: YOU'RE BEING FILMED.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Big Brother is watching, and he's keeping a close eye on the more than 150,000 residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

To deter graffiti vandalism, city officials had cameras installed on 34 public buses to film any troublesome passengers.

``Over the years, technology has improved, and it seems to be holding up well in the transit environment,'' said Bob Murphy, the city's transportation manager. ``Our onboard camera systems are running at a very high efficiency rate now.''

The GE Interlogix Kalatel MobileView cameras have led to a 60 percent decrease in graffiti since they were installed in 2000. So far, both city coffers and ATC/VanCom, which operates and maintains the city's 80 buses, have benefited from the technology.

Part of ATC's contract with city government requires removal or repair every night of any graffiti scratched or written on the buses, which then can go out clean each morning.

Fighting juvenile graffiti on a nightly basis proved to be a daunting task at first, but news got around that vandals would be caught.

``We have a zero tolerance policy on graffiti,'' Murphy said. ``So our main approach is not to give the graffiti community a chance to compete with each other.''

Designed for buses, light-rail cars and other mobile vehicles, the digital video camera system begins recording when a driver starts the engine.

``We pull the video, identify the person, track her or him down and impose appropriate penalties,'' Chris Neville, ATC director of maintenance, said in a statement. ``We found that the key is simply to enforce the system. The word gets around, and pretty soon the fear that we can catch you becomes a deterrent.''

That wasn't the case in May when a shooting suspect hijacked a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority bus and led police on a two-mile chase through rush-hour traffic.

The gunman noticed his actions being recorded before the bus collided with a van and delivery truck, killing one and injuring seven others, according to authorities.

Santa Clarita city officials want potential offenders to know in advance that there are cameras on local buses and that any crime on board is likely to be filmed.

``There is a public knowledge of the cameras. The word is out,'' Murphy said.

``Beyond that, it's a quality-of-life issue. Whether in your own vehicle or in a public one, you want to be comfortable. The quality-of-life issue is very important here,'' he added.

City officials said they have gone one step further to ensure a more than pleasant bus ride. In an emergency, the driver can push a special button that will send sound and pictures directly to police.

Surveys showed that many students use the bus system to go to and from school, city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said. ``It was then that we realized we had to make improvements and provide a good, safe environment for the kids.''

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Santa Clarita city officials have been spreading the word that cameras on transit buses, such as this one, make it likely that authorities can identify and punish any vandals.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer