"Good on them for getting out there and doing something, so now let's make them safe and offer an alternative."
One solution could lie in them taking up fruit picking jobs, instead of hanging about intersections, Dr Reti said.
"There are currently hundreds of overseas orchard workers in and around Kerikeri doing seasonal work under the RSE [Recognised Seasonal Worker] programme. Imagine if we could offer the window washers transport to and from Whangarei and a good day's pay for a good day's work in an orchard."
It was a matter he planned to discuss with local employers, Work and Income and window washers.
The proposed Land Transport bill would cut through the red tape and expensive court processes that have hamstrung Whangarei District and other councils in dealing with window washers.
Before the bill, the solution was muddied as the New Zealand Transport Agency and local councils had different responsibilities over intersecting highways and local roads.
This new tool for police would see window washers fined $150 on-the-spot and banned, and fined up to $1000 if they are caught again.
Dr Reti agreed that moving window washers on would result in less anti-social behaviour and fewer complaints, but he also said behaviour that one person found intimidating might not be to someone else.
He said he once laid a complaint with the police when he saw four groups of four youths - 16 in total - on each side of the Kamo Rd and State Highway 1 intersection.
He complained as much for the window washers' safety as any nuisance factor.
He welcomed the inbuilt safety measure in the law change.
He said if there were fewer window washers ducking amongst the traffic there would be less chance of them being injured by vehicles.