Editorial: Clean up city car washers

A windscreen washer in another city. In Rotorua anyone harassed by window washers can contact police as it is against council bylaws. Photo/File

I can sympathise with a Rotorua mother whose son was left petrified after window washers intimidated them in a supermarket car park recently.

Window washers are back in the news this week after we reported yesterday Emma Wright and her 6-year-old son were approached by a window washer who refused to take no for an answer.

She said she didn't want her window washed, but he carried on doing it. She turned her wipers on and he grabbed the blade, breaking it. He then asked for change, but she said she didn't have any. He persisted "not even a dollar?".

The other night I was in the KFC drive-through (would you believe buying something for someone else?) with my 3-year-old daughter. It was dark and I was in the queue. A window washer came out of nowhere and squirted water on the windscreen. I gestured "no" and locked the doors. He carried on washing the window and hung around waiting for money, but I just ignored him. My daughter was startled and wondered what he was doing, but in all fairness I was probably more scared of him than she was.

I mentioned it to the KFC worker at the window and assumed I wasn't the only one to do so.

My issue is with people claiming they are "just trying to make an honest dollar".

Firstly there's nothing honest about their intimidating tactics. And I wonder how honest their earnings really are? Are they declaring their income to the Inland Revenue Department or are they just creaming extra cash on top of their benefits that you and I are paying for?

My advice to locals is to politely decline their offer and ring the police if you find them intimidating. There is a council bylaw in place to stop this activity.