We Asked Wellington Windscreen Washers if Politicians Will Wipe Them Out

With just a squeegee and a water bottle in their hands, the guys washing car windows at intersections are looking for one thing—cash.

National MP Jami-Lee Ross says not to pay them. In fact, he has proposed a new bill in parliament to get them off the streets entirely. Ross suggests that these washers are not only a road safety issue but are dangerous, accusing the (pretty handy) enterprise of having a "strong presence of gangs".

The new law would allow police to issue $150 spot fines for daring to scrub some grime off your windscreen. They would also be fined up to $1000 for a second offence and up to $20,000 by the court for repeated offences. The bill has passed it's first reading with support from both National and Labour but has been opposed by The Green Party and Maori Party. Green Party MP Jan Logie called it "an attack on the poor."

VICE went to talk to guys washing windscreens at a main intersection to see if a $150 fine would deter them. Most of them hadn't heard about the proposed law at all, but it was clear they were short of cash and in need of some help. The question then becomes, is this a New Zealand road safety issue or does it touch on issues of poverty, prisoner reentry and substance abuse?

How long have you been helping the window washers?
I've been helping with filling the bros waters and all that for a year or so. Every time the bottle is empty I fill it up and then they shout me a feed or some cash.

What do you use the money for?
Feeding a habit.

What would you do if you got fined $150?
150? I'll pay it off five bucks a week. It's my living so I'd still do it. It wouldn't put me off, hell no.

Are you or your any of your guys gang related?
Being honest yeah they have probably seen me chuck a fist up. We are all from different towns, us guys are from Taranaki. They just see hands like this. I've had my fair share of run ins with the cops. They're nice to a point. They are always saying hello to us.

How long have you been out here?
Been working for about 8 years. It's better than going around stealing and doing wrong. It's pretty much busking. I need money for necessities like everyone else. I need a house, I need power and I need food.

Have you ever run into any bad situations?
It depends what kind of vibe you give out. If you give out good vibes you get it back. I put my smiley faces on the window, that's my signature. It generally comes back with koha.

What do you think about the idea from David Seymour from ACT party suggesting to fine drivers also?
They'd still do it, they come by and give us money and food. People across the road give us baking. Most people are sweet as, only a quarter don't really wanna know us.

Do you do any other work?
If you give me legal work, yeah I'll do it. The system is holding us down. It's the system. I'm currently on the benefit. It doesn't pay all the bills and this beats sitting there with a sign. Much respect to the bros that do that though.

If you weren't doing this would you have to steal?
Yes, you have to work. You know I don't class it as busking I say it's a job. They say get a job and now we're working, just not in their 'system law' but we're still working. I'm just a supporter though.

Do you do any other work?
I'm the hustler that sits there with a sign. It's hard as for me to sit there with a sign. The reason why I do it is because I'd rather ask for it instead of being young and stupid. I don't want to get in trouble so I try do something else. Something productive.

What response do you get?
You see the odd little cranky person but usually people smile. I just want people to know we aren't bad people. I've done some bad things in my past I'll admit but that was two years ago now. We just aren't those people anymore we are trying to live life and be happy about it.

Are you one of the window washers?
No. I'm just a friend with the water bottles. Been at this spot for a couple of months.

How much do you earn on a good or bad day?
Probably 80 bucks on a good day and 20 on a bad one. I've got two kids so I give some to them.

Where are the other spots for this in Wellington?
Aro St is the main spot in Wellington. We're all friends with the guys there and we go back and forth. They're mean as. This is the main hub here. One bro has done Aro St for five years, he's got like nine kids or something.

Are any of those guys gang related?
Most of these guys here are gang related so when the police pull up it comes up on their file. It ain't easy to find a job when you were in jail or in a gang. Not me though. I'm glad you caught us and not the other fellas with the dog. They're way trippier than us and would have been right up in your face.

(Naturally, I then went on a hunt to find the 'other fellas with the dog'. Spoiler: they weren't noticeably 'trippier')

How long have you been out here?
Today or in general? I've been doing this for seven years.

What do you use the money for?
Food and necessities, dog food because, I mean, look at this big boy. Maybe sometimes accommodation and a bit of pot. Just whatever you do with your work money. We see it as a job and we get great responses. Some people beep and get us to run over and do it. I've been given a $50 note before.

Are any of the guys who work with you gang related?
Gang related no, we just wash windows. They don't hang around with us or they'd make us look bad. We're not gangstas we're just a brotherhood, we all look after each other. We're pretty much like one big circle and that's how we've made it. If someone comes up washing we want to know what they're doing. I don't like people sitting here drinking and stuff we're just trying to do this properly.

How long have you been doing this?
Seven years too. John taught me how to window wash. I was back in New Plymouth and I just got out of juve. I had an aggravated robbery charge so I can't get a job. Ever since I've been doing this I've been able to support myself and have freedom. I could walk out of a town with a squeegee on my back and my thumb out and could go anywhere.

Have you run into any trouble?
I've been beaten up by the police doing it. We had a guy pull a gun on me window washing in New Plymouth. He was like on meth and he hadn't been to sleep in a month. Went crazy as.

What would you do if you got a fine?
I wouldn't even pay them. They'd be getting a dollar a week from me. I'd be doing it more and go wash down Courtney Place. Look at it in Auckland, it's banned up there but they just keep doing it and they just run every time the cops come. That's what we'll do. We can see them coming from a mile away.

Follow Laura on Twitter.