Car window washers stir multiple feelings in people from anger, to surprise and excitement and when you least expect it. It is easy to recognize it as a job for the thick skinned. Hey but when you’re hungry it beats breaking into a house and stealing, right?
New Zealand has its fair share of pop up intersection cleaners that have dogged Councils and Police and created huge headaches with the general public on busy roads.
A new law change that would allow for on-the-spot fines to be issued against car window washers passed its first reading April 12th. Public feedback is currently being sought on the Land Transport ( Vehicle User Safety) Amendment Bill, first introduced to Parliament back in December last year.
This all came to ahead back in 2014 when a motorist in New Plymouth objected to his car screen being cleaned. He was assaulted by the window washer at the Eliot and Leach St intersection. The victim was punched in the face and left with a black eye.
If the bill is approved it will be down to the police to enforce the fines of around $150.
‘Yeah-nah’ as the Kiwis say… how many of these street car window cleaners will have the money to pay that?
Wellington City Council have had 34 complaints from motorists in the past 15 months alone whilst other cities such as Auckland and Christchurch also problems with these petrol headed clean freaks trying to make a crust. Auckland and Christchurch already have by-laws to deal with the problem.
There was a mixed reaction to the proposed law change from people who posted their opinion on the Taranaki Daily News’ Facebook page. While some considered the windows washers to be intimidating and a traffic hazard, others said they didn’t have a problem with it and it was good to see young people showing initiative.
The bill is currently before the Transport and Industrial Relations committee and the public have until June 1 to lodge their submissions.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THIS NEWS TOPIC IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. ARE CAR WINDOW WASHERS INTIMIDATING? ARE THEY SOCIAL LOSERS? OR ARE THEY JUST INNOVATIVE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE A CRUST?
