Montreal's unusually warm weather is encouraging graffiti artists to start up earlier than usual this year, before the city launches its cleanup efforts.

The city's director of cleanliness and maintenance, Yves Girard, says when the snow melts, it exposes old graffiti which can lead to more tagging.

"We're starting the operation, but the spring is so early that the graffiti is coming in very quickly," Girard said Thursday.

He said business-owners have called the city to complain.

" They seem to have more graffiti at this time compared to the same time last year," said Girard.

Montreal police Commander Eric Lalonde said the problem is not any worse this year, but acknowledges his force can't keep track of it unless people report it right away.

"It's difficult for us to catch them so we need information to make a good strategy to arrest these young kids," he said.

Most graffiti artists are between 10 and 18 years old, said Lalonde.

While offenders rarely go to jail, they are usually fined $100 each time they are caught.