Window washers on the streets of Whangarei sparked a meeting between agencies this week. PHOTO/JOHN STONE
The lure of cash just before Christmas has seen a proliferation of window washers at major intersections around Whangarei but motorists are fed up and reckon someone will die before authorities take action.
Some window washers claim they can make $200 an hour with groups of up to 15 at a time descending on traffic waiting at the lights.
Motorists report some are polite but others are intimidating, litter and disrupt traffic.
Teams of washers are frequently spotted at the intersection of SH1 and Rewarewa Rd, Maunu Rd and SH14 and Western Hills Drive and Kamo Rd. But they have also encroached on shopping carparks and inner city intersections.
The State Highway intersections come under the jurisdiction of the NZ Transport Agency and the agency confirmed it was not illegal for them to be window washing.
However, if they are working at inner city intersections they would be subject to the Whangarei District Council bylaws and could be fined up to $500. Police can intervene if a crime is committed.
The recent surge in window washers prompted a meeting between Whangarei District Council, police and the NZ Transport Authority this week. In a written statement NZ Transport Agency highway manager Brett Gliddon said the agency was working with police to ensure the safety of all road users at the intersection where window washers have become a frequent presence.
"We are installing signs to discourage both the window washers themselves and motorists from using their services," Mr Gliddon said.
"Window washers can create safety issues for themselves and others including distraction and hazards in moving traffic, and the transport agency advises motorists not to engage with them."
WDC chief executive Rob Forlong described the activity as "a pesky, risky seasonal hazard that we all find annoying".
The council bylaw says no person within the area administered by council, can wash or clean for payment or donation, the windows of any vehicle stopped on the road carriageway.
Any person found to be engaged in this practice and fails to move on when asked by police, commits an offence.
"Our bylaw does give us the ability to take window washers at intersections to court. In reality, chasing a prosecution through the courts, gathering witnesses, serving papers, the process of lawyers being appointed to defendants and so on would cost the ratepayer much more than the fine would cover."
His advice was: "Shake your head when the window washers approach you, wind up your windows, and move on as soon as it is safe to do so."
He said the council had started to monitor calls of complaint and if there was an upsurge in the problem it would consider a blitz to move washers on.
"If the window washer does something wrong like damaging your car, reaching inside it or threatening you, call the police right away."
Following the meeting with other agencies this week Mr Furlong said it was agreed no one wanted accidents, intimidation or damage to anyone or to anyone's property.
"At the same time, we all have to make serious decisions about investing public resources in the most urgent areas."
Road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Row said fine weather combined with end of school had seen an increase in window washer numbers.
He said police had responded to calls from motorists concerned about the young age of some of the washers.
"We have safety concerns with the young ones being in and out of the traffic. If we believe they are in danger we can remove them," he said.
"And of course if they commit any offences call us."
A Whangarei man has launched an online petition calling for a crackdown on window washers before someone is killed.
Matthew Judkins started the petition on Thursday night and has nearly 1000 signatures.
He's calling on Whangarei District Council, police, Worksafe, Ministry of Education, Whangarei MP Shane Reti and NZTA to work together to solve the problem.
"These guys are littering, drinking, I'm sick of it, I know my wife's sick of it. It can be intimidating, especially when there's a woman on her own or with little kids in the car.
"It's annoying, it's dangerous, someone's going to be killed. Then the poor driver who was involved, through no fault of his own, will have to deal with the consequences and the law."
He hopes to get about 6000 signatures.