The Dalles and Wasco County Public Works crews are painting the center and side lines on main streets today and Thursday.  In recent years, paint with low “volatile organic chemicals” has been used in order to protect the environment, but it dries more slowly than paint used in previous years, so extra precautions are needed to give the paint time to dry.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the drying time of the paint, which takes 4 minutes at best and longer under humid or cooler temperatures.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.