You pull up to the traffic lights and suddenly a stream of frothy water is sprayed onto your windscreen.
You haven't asked for it and your windscreen isn't that dirty, but an intersection windscreen washer has arrived and it's going to be cleaned anyway.
This is probably a common experience for urban dwellers, especially those of us living in New Zealand.
Is it just people trying to earn a living or do you consider it intimidating?
Are they a public nuisance or do they provide a service to the community and show a degree of entrepreneurship?
Some councils already have bylaws in place banning their intersection activities.
In the following NZ Herald article from last week, National and Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross has put forward changes to a Land Transport Amendment Bill which he expects to pass into law this month which would see police given the power to give windscreen washers at intersections a $150 spot fine.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11898174
Is a fine the best way forward or should windscreen washers be recognised as a proper licensed trade so they can continue as a legitimate employment option?
What would the consequences of a fine be on those involved? How might that compare the the consequences of making this a legit trade?
Could windscreen washing get people into legitimate work?
Fine them or regulate them?
What do you think?
It is proposed that intersection windscreen washing should become a legal licensed trade