Squeegee Men at the Lights? How much to pay in Canberra?

Has the guy at Hindmarsh/Melrose in Woden retired or something? Haven’t seen him in ages.

LSWCHP said :

The Traineediplomat said :

I often wonder what would happen if I got a bunch of young enthusiatic persons to arrive before said squeegee guys, fully kitted up in a waterproof outfit* with clean soapy water and squeegees and offered their services in a smiling helpful manner… perhaps even with a board with the set price for a window washing service on it.

What would the current crop of squeegions do? Realise that they have been defeated by superior marketing and service? Or go absolutely postal?

* note I don’t mean bikini babes…though that would raise interesting ‘using women as sex objects’ v ‘but I don’t like ugly smelly squeegions’ questions.

Three or four years ago a womens sporting club (I think it was a hockey club) did this on the corner of Coulter and Southern Cross drives near Belco Mall. There were about 20 young women in their sporting uniforms, with smiles, signs, clean water, squeegees etc, all in good order. They were polite, friendly, enthusiastic and not the least bit threatening. They looked like they were having a good time for a good cause, I was happy to do business with them, and it looked like they were making a mozza.

Good on ’em.

And besides, women washing windscreens might end in a water fight, which has much the same result as a pillow fight…

Yeh the womans rep Oztag team near gull a few yrs back

The Traineediplomat said :

I often wonder what would happen if I got a bunch of young enthusiatic persons to arrive before said squeegee guys, fully kitted up in a waterproof outfit* with clean soapy water and squeegees and offered their services in a smiling helpful manner… perhaps even with a board with the set price for a window washing service on it.

What would the current crop of squeegions do? Realise that they have been defeated by superior marketing and service? Or go absolutely postal?

* note I don’t mean bikini babes…though that would raise interesting ‘using women as sex objects’ v ‘but I don’t like ugly smelly squeegions’ questions.

Three or four years ago a womens sporting club (I think it was a hockey club) did this on the corner of Coulter and Southern Cross drives near Belco Mall. There were about 20 young women in their sporting uniforms, with smiles, signs, clean water, squeegees etc, all in good order. They were polite, friendly, enthusiastic and not the least bit threatening. They looked like they were having a good time for a good cause, I was happy to do business with them, and it looked like they were making a mozza.

Good on ’em.

I can look after my own windscreen, and I’ve always managed to discourage these “entrepreneurs” (as V68 describes them) with a look. But then, I’m a very large bloke, and apparently I have a bad bedside manner, or so I was recently informed. It doesn’t take much effort on my part.

My wife is small to average in size, with a natural open and friendly smile. On many occasions she has told me how one of these people has washed her windscreen despite her objections. Several times she’s been hassled aggressively for cash to pay for something she obviously didn’t want. On one occasion (I think about a year ago) she was intimidated to the point where she handed over the first coin she could find, and was then abused because it wasn’t an appropriate gold coin amount. She cried when she told me about that, so I called the cops. When I described the guy and his location they said something like “Oh yes, OK, that’s Andrew (or whatever his name is) and he gets a little out of line occasionally. We’ll have a word with him”.

Ordinarily I would feel sorry for these people and their reduced circumstances. But from where I sit, they have a history of hassling and intimidating people, mainly female, whom they perceive as a soft touch. I don’t like it. And if Andrew (or whatever his name is) makes my wife cry again, I’ll have a word to him.

I often wonder what would happen if I got a bunch of young enthusiatic persons to arrive before said squeegee guys, fully kitted up in a waterproof outfit* with clean soapy water and squeegees and offered their services in a smiling helpful manner… perhaps even with a board with the set price for a window washing service on it.

What would the current crop of squeegions do? Realise that they have been defeated by superior marketing and service? Or go absolutely postal?

* note I don’t mean bikini babes…though that would raise interesting ‘using women as sex objects’ v ‘but I don’t like ugly smelly squeegions’ questions.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Mysteryman said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Mysteryman said :

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

or perhaps you need a humour upgrade?

Not likely.

Well if you are happy with having a comedic compass somewhere to the south of Kevin Bloody Wilson, I guess you should go without the upgrade.

If you want to act like you’re some sort of enlightened, internet crusader by looking for racial motivations in everything, go for it. Some of us are intelligent enough to understand what the joke is really about. As johnboy mentioned, “Alan Jones listeners are not a race”. It’s obviously too much for you to grasp. Better luck next time, hey?

The day will come , (not if), when one of these guys is run over or will cause a serious accident. Who will take responsibility for this. The government for turning a blind eye? They should for their inaction. Any other small business operator has to have insurance , registration etc. Why shouldn’t they? Who will cover the damage? The window washers insurance company….I don’t think so!!!

Captain RAAF said :

… we’d rid our streets of these filthy Catweezel wannabees!

Sacrilege. May Catweazle forgive you.

niftydog said :

Watson said :

Please stop trying to make my brain explode?

Post 72 quotes rule 236 from the Australian Road Rules as published by the National Transport Commission, which is based on Federal Law. It states this type of activity is illegal provided the rule isn’t over-ridden by local law.

Post 39 quotes from “Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000” which is ACT Government subordinate law. This effectively changes the wording for rule 236 from “A pedestrian must not…” to “A pedestrian may…”

Kudos to helium for finding it in the first place!

Wow, this is getting serious. All this talk about scared ladies and less than attractive squeegee-men, I wonder if this will ever end up in Rule 34 territory?

Watson said :

Please stop trying to make my brain explode?

Post 72 quotes rule 236 from the Australian Road Rules as published by the National Transport Commission, which is based on Federal Law. It states this type of activity is illegal provided the rule isn’t over-ridden by local law.

Post 39 quotes from “Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000” which is ACT Government subordinate law. This effectively changes the wording for rule 236 from “A pedestrian must not…” to “A pedestrian may…”

Kudos to helium for finding it in the first place!

Mysteryman said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Mysteryman said :

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

or perhaps you need a humour upgrade?

Not likely.

Well if you are happy with having a comedic compass somewhere to the south of Kevin Bloody Wilson, I guess you should go without the upgrade.

niftydog said :

TheWolf said :

(6) Subrules (4) and (5) do not apply to the carrying on of an
activity permitted by another law of this jurisdiction.

Note this bit carefully, and then read post #39.

Please stop trying to make my brain explode?

I am assuming that the rule in #39 is the exception mentioned in #72, though I cannot really work that out from the posts and am way too lazy to go and check.

It does sound like it is legal indeed.

TheWolf said :

(6) Subrules (4) and (5) do not apply to the carrying on of an
activity permitted by another law of this jurisdiction.

Note this bit carefully, and then read post #39.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Mysteryman said :

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

or perhaps you need a humour upgrade?

Not likely.

Mysteryman said :

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

or perhaps you need a humour upgrade?

It’s illegal for them to wash your screen, and you to let them wash it…

“4) A pedestrian must not stand on, or move onto, a road to:
(e) wash or clean, or offer to wash or clean, the windscreen
of a vehicle.”

“(5) A driver, or a passenger, in or on a vehicle must not buy, or
offer to buy, an article or service from a person standing on
a road.”

* * *
Australian Road Rules – February 2008 version 226

236 Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or
obstruction

(1) A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into
the path of a driver.
Offence provision.

(2) A pedestrian must not unreasonably obstruct the path of any
driver or another pedestrian.
Offence provision.

(3) For subrule (2), a pedestrian does not unreasonably obstruct
the path of another pedestrian only by travelling more
slowly than other pedestrians.

(4) A pedestrian must not stand on, or move onto, a road to:

(a) solicit contributions, employment or business from an
occupant of a vehicle; or

(b) hitchhike; or

(c) display an advertisement; or

(d) sell or offer articles for sale; or

(e) wash or clean, or offer to wash or clean, the windscreen
of a vehicle.

Offence provision.

(5) A driver, or a passenger, in or on a vehicle must not buy, or
offer to buy, an article or service from a person standing on
a road.

Offence provision.

(6) Subrules (4) and (5) do not apply to the carrying on of an
activity permitted by another law of this jurisdiction.

(7) In this rule:

road includes any shoulder of the road, and any median
strip, painted island or traffic island, but does not include
any other road-related area.

Note Median strip, painted island and traffic island are defined in the
dictionary, shoulder is defined in rule 12, and road-related area is
defined in rule 13.

quote]

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

now that was funny 😀

2.0 said :

troll-sniffer said :

Jamal and Ahmed caught up at the family get together in Bankstown, Jamal arrived in a brand new BMW while Ahmed arrived on foot in tatty sandals. Iskandar the uncle asked how the windscreen washing business was going in Canberra. Ahmed said “Not too well, uncle, hard to even get $2 out of those tight-arse pubes”. Meanwhile Jamal smiled and said “Not bad uncle, I just bought my third investment property”.

Later, Ahmed grabs Jamal and with a sad face says “I don’t understand, London Circuit can’t be that much worse than Barry Drive, yet I hardly make enough to pay my rent”. Jamal replies “Come up I show you my secret.”

So back in Canberra Ahmed wanders up to Barry Drive to see what makes Jamal so much more successful. While they’re standing waiting for the red light, Jamal fiddles with a microphone, scanning the waiting cars. “There’s one” he exclaims, as the rasping prejudice of Alan Jones is picked up on the speaker. Quickly he walks to the target and holds up a sign, whereupon the driver winds down the window and hands over $20.00, even before his windscreen is washed.

When he returns to the soapy bucket, Ahmed is curious and demands to see the sign. Jamal proudly holds up the piece of regged cardboard, upon which was scrawled the plea:

Help me please. Only $20.00 more and I can afford my ticket home.

Was this a joke?, I failed to see the punchline. Just came down to a racist rant.

It was a joke. And I laughed. Perhaps you need to search the lost and found for a sense of humour.

PBO said :

…obviously going through a tough time…

The guy on Antill St has been ‘going through a tough time’ for a good five years or more…

PBO said :

…if we all gave a little bit more then we would not be having this thread…

…because we’d all be out washing windscreens to save for an early retirement!

I am feeling the need to distance myself from the usual “if they do drugs or alchohol or have mental health issues, they should be tortured until they better themselves or die” crowd.

But I still don’t give them money because I think it’s no better than begging. If they learnt to play an instrument – even badly, or even just used clean water and stopped being so pushy I’d give them money and I couldn’t care less what they do with it – that’s none of my business.

Ex Warrior said :

“Judging by some of the comments here, i can see a massive amount of coal being deposited in peoples XMAS stockings.”

“Oh ok, so by not wanting someone putting their filthy mits and water all over our cars that we own! and in in some intances payed alot of money for, we are all “bad people” pffft”

Spreading a little bit of good karma to those who are obviously going through a tough time should not be frowned upon, if we all gave a little bit more then we would not be having this thread. If you have payed a lot of money for your car like you said, then why complain about sharing a little bit of it around to those who need it?

To PBO and all the other bleeding hearts,
Give the filthy bludgers some of your time and advise them to get the f*ck of the crack, stop buying piss from Dickson with every $5 scabbed, clean up their acts and have a bloody go at becoming employable. Its clear they dont mind having a go so share a bit of your great compassionate nature or I know what about kicking their arses until they wake up to themselves.
More money = more piss and drugs. And im sure your donation of a couple of joints worked wonders with their motivation!! Hey lets smoke some weed then we’ll update the resume and go job hunting……

It could be you one day….

“Judging by some of the comments here, i can see a massive amount of coal being deposited in peoples XMAS stockings.”

“Oh ok, so by not wanting someone putting their filthy mits and water all over our cars that we own! and in in some intances payed alot of money for, we are all “bad people” pffft”

Spreading a little bit of good karma to those who are obviously going through a tough time should not be frowned upon, if we all gave a little bit more then we would not be having this thread. If you have payed a lot of money for your car like you said, then why complain about sharing a little bit of it around to those who need it?

To PBO and all the other bleeding hearts,
Give the filthy bludgers some of your time and advise them to get the f*ck of the crack, stop buying piss from Dickson with every $5 scabbed, clean up their acts and have a bloody go at becoming employable. Its clear they dont mind having a go so share a bit of your great compassionate nature or I know what about kicking their arses until they wake up to themselves.
More money = more piss and drugs. And im sure your donation of a couple of joints worked wonders with their motivation!! Hey lets smoke some weed then we’ll update the resume and go job hunting……

2.0 said :

PBO said :

Judging by some of the comments here, i can see a massive amount of coal being deposited in peoples XMAS stockings.

Oh ok, so by not wanting someone putting their filthy mits and water all over our cars that we own! and in in some intances payed alot of money for, we are all “bad people” pffft

Spreading a little bit of good karma to those who are obviously going through a tough time should not be frowned upon, if we all gave a little bit more then we would not be having this thread. If you have payed a lot of money for your car like you said, then why complain about sharing a little bit of it around to those who need it?

And it is spelt “inStances”.

I know where the guy (on mouat/northborne) stored his squeegie, so no i wont use any of them, including the communal squeegee in a petrol station. What if he scratches your glass? he doesnt have insurance, will a “sorry” satisfy you? I’m the same with automatic carwashes too, its great to claim “scratch free guarantee”, but you need something to back that up.

I have a spray bottle of window cleaner, and two old rags in the car. When i use the rag (cloth nappies from years ago), it gets returned to the laundry for washing, and another one comes off the pile to replace it.

chilli said :

The first couple of times I felt ‘guilted’ into paying him a dollar, but not the last time.

hence encouraging him.

But I guess appearing on tv ads with Brendan Sloan the Magnet Mart Man (ie like the window washer at Northbourne and Barry Drive) gives him another dollar or few.

2.0 said :

Was this a joke?, I failed to see the punchline. Just came down to a racist rant.

Alan Jones listeners are not a race.

troll-sniffer said :

Jamal and Ahmed caught up at the family get together in Bankstown, Jamal arrived in a brand new BMW while Ahmed arrived on foot in tatty sandals. Iskandar the uncle asked how the windscreen washing business was going in Canberra. Ahmed said “Not too well, uncle, hard to even get $2 out of those tight-arse pubes”. Meanwhile Jamal smiled and said “Not bad uncle, I just bought my third investment property”.

Later, Ahmed grabs Jamal and with a sad face says “I don’t understand, London Circuit can’t be that much worse than Barry Drive, yet I hardly make enough to pay my rent”. Jamal replies “Come up I show you my secret.”

So back in Canberra Ahmed wanders up to Barry Drive to see what makes Jamal so much more successful. While they’re standing waiting for the red light, Jamal fiddles with a microphone, scanning the waiting cars. “There’s one” he exclaims, as the rasping prejudice of Alan Jones is picked up on the speaker. Quickly he walks to the target and holds up a sign, whereupon the driver winds down the window and hands over $20.00, even before his windscreen is washed.

When he returns to the soapy bucket, Ahmed is curious and demands to see the sign. Jamal proudly holds up the piece of regged cardboard, upon which was scrawled the plea:

Help me please. Only $20.00 more and I can afford my ticket home.

Was this a joke?, I failed to see the punchline. Just came down to a racist rant.

JohnK said :

Listen – if you find yourself envious of the local squeegee guys as overpaid fat-cats, you really gotta get a grip. It’s not like there is anything stopping anyone commenting here from becoming a squeegee guy today, is there?

It would probably do a lot of people a lot of good to try their hand at menial work. It’s good for the soul.

JohnK said :

Jetsam said :

I’m in the wrong business!

Listen – if you find yourself envious of the local squeegee guys as overpaid fat-cats, you really gotta get a grip. It’s not like there is anything stopping anyone commenting here from becoming a squeegee guy today, is there?

For the philosophical approach, I’ll leave that to George Orwell:

“Still, I can point to one or two things I have definitely learned by being hard up. I shall never again think that all tramps are drunken scoundrels, nor expect a beggar to be grateful when I give him a penny, nor be surprised if men out of work lack energy, nor subscribe to the Salvation Army, nor pawn my clothes, nor refuse a handbill, nor enjoy a meal at a smart restaurant. That is a beginning.” from “Down and Out in Paris and London”, 1933.

Earning the hourly equivalent of at least 40 grand a year tax free is not being “hard up” by any stretch.
Personally, I’d prefer not to breathe in toxic fumes all day, but there are far dirtier, more physically and mentally demanding and less lucrative jobs that require much less self-respect than being a squeegee man.
Sure it ain’t fun, but ask around how many people actually have fun at work.
If they find ways to blow that amount of money and still be “hard up”, then why would I want to give them any more to waste?

JohnK said :

Jetsam said :

I’m in the wrong business!

Listen – if you find yourself envious of the local squeegee guys as overpaid fat-cats, you really gotta get a grip. It’s not like there is anything stopping anyone commenting here from becoming a squeegee guy today, is there?

+1

Jetsam said :

I’m in the wrong business!

Listen – if you find yourself envious of the local squeegee guys as overpaid fat-cats, you really gotta get a grip. It’s not like there is anything stopping anyone commenting here from becoming a squeegee guy today, is there?

For the philosophical approach, I’ll leave that to George Orwell:

“Still, I can point to one or two things I have definitely learned by being hard up. I shall never again think that all tramps are drunken scoundrels, nor expect a beggar to be grateful when I give him a penny, nor be surprised if men out of work lack energy, nor subscribe to the Salvation Army, nor pawn my clothes, nor refuse a handbill, nor enjoy a meal at a smart restaurant. That is a beginning.” from “Down and Out in Paris and London”, 1933.

Jamal and Ahmed caught up at the family get together in Bankstown, Jamal arrived in a brand new BMW while Ahmed arrived on foot in tatty sandals. Iskandar the uncle asked how the windscreen washing business was going in Canberra. Ahmed said “Not too well, uncle, hard to even get $2 out of those tight-arse pubes”. Meanwhile Jamal smiled and said “Not bad uncle, I just bought my third investment property”.

Later, Ahmed grabs Jamal and with a sad face says “I don’t understand, London Circuit can’t be that much worse than Barry Drive, yet I hardly make enough to pay my rent”. Jamal replies “Come up I show you my secret.”

So back in Canberra Ahmed wanders up to Barry Drive to see what makes Jamal so much more successful. While they’re standing waiting for the red light, Jamal fiddles with a microphone, scanning the waiting cars. “There’s one” he exclaims, as the rasping prejudice of Alan Jones is picked up on the speaker. Quickly he walks to the target and holds up a sign, whereupon the driver winds down the window and hands over $20.00, even before his windscreen is washed.

When he returns to the soapy bucket, Ahmed is curious and demands to see the sign. Jamal proudly holds up the piece of regged cardboard, upon which was scrawled the plea:

Help me please. Only $20.00 more and I can afford my ticket home.

Jetsam said :

So you’re telling me that if they work 7 hours a day, 5 days a week they earn at least $3,300 bucks tax free a month, and they don’t even have to pay rent? That’s with only 2 bucks every 5 mins. What if 3 people pay up? Add to that the ability to choose your own hours. I’m in the wrong business!

Many years ago I worked in a business near one of the busy corners where these guys ply their trade. I can assure you, they were making plenty of money (because they used to come in and swap their change for notes). One bloke was making about 50 bucks an hour! You would think that on that kind of $$ (tax free, and in his case in addition to welfare) he would clean himself up a bit, have a shower and a shave, get a clean polo shirt and would probably increase his take to $75 an hour.

So you’re telling me that if they work 7 hours a day, 5 days a week they earn at least $3,300 bucks tax free a month, and they don’t even have to pay rent? That’s with only 2 bucks every 5 mins. What if 3 people pay up? Add to that the ability to choose your own hours. I’m in the wrong business!

Cut ’em some slack….a couple of them have been around so long, they’ve almost become Canberra institutions. The way I see it, they’re doing a community service. I gave the guy $2 this morning to wash my windscreen free of dirt and a particularly obstinate bird poo. A good deal in my opinion.

PBO said :

Judging by some of the comments here, i can see a massive amount of coal being deposited in peoples XMAS stockings.

Oh ok, so by not wanting someone putting their filthy mits and water all over our cars that we own! and in in some intances payed alot of money for, we are all “bad people” pffft

Judging by some of the comments here, i can see a massive amount of coal being deposited in peoples XMAS stockings.

I don’t support the practice. It’s dangerous, illegal and…

Read post 39 and rethink your argument.

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

Apparently these guys are so moralistic and full of virtue that they wake up one day, resolve to cease all illegal activity, then stoically eke out an honest living washing windows on the corner.

All the assistance they need to become a decent, law abiding member of society is to be handed a steady stream of unaccountable cash!

So where does ACT Workcover get placed in this? What insurance policies do they hold? What income is declared? If someone gets abused or harassed by them – to what authority do they complain to?
At the end of the day, if these guys are hurt, or cause an accident – what happens then? I would be horrified if one of these guys ended up on my bonnet…and I spent the next 7 years in and out of court with an insurance company arguing the point about the persons medical expenses etc.
The legislation is a clear example of the ACT Council. if you ask me.
Surely if the goverment has taken the time to legislate to support this little cottage industry – surely it should be doing something to regulate them in some way? I dont think Centrelink or the taxpayer would be too happy with the amound of gold coins that they collect each day on top of welfare. Good luck trying to convince anyone that they are not on some sort of benefit either.
I dont see this as much different to begging – and the amount of money we invest in payments and the 30,000 odd people delivering those payments – seems a bit rich to me.

chilli said :

I’ve had the Northbourne Ave/Barry Drive guy insist upon washing my windscreen on at least 4 occasions when I’ve told him – repeatedly – not to.

He never does it when my husband is in the car with me, only when I’m alone. I’ve heard that’s pretty common for him. The first couple of times I felt ‘guilted’ into paying him a dollar, but not the last time.

I have the right NOT to have my windscreen washed, surely. But if he keeps going after I’ve said no, like he’s doing me some huge favour (very irritating), what’s the best way to stop him, short of violence?

He used to that to me but the last time I leant out of my window and yelled: “Hey, are you deaf?! NO means effing NO!” really loudly and he never did it again. It’s not that I object that much to them trying to earn a dollar (though I agree that there are better ways of doing that) but the disrespect and picking out the ones who they think look like bleeding heart pushovers really angers me.

I normally give them a friendly ‘no thanks’ wave to the squeeguees. And if they would do a half decent job, I’d use their services occasionally. But since I’ve had my wipers slide over the soapy film they leave behind without wiping off the rain after using their service a couple of times, I will not let them touch my window anymore.

Quitlting people into giving money is called begging and I never give money to beggars because it encourages the practice which is not good for anyone.

chilli said :

I’ve had the Northbourne Ave/Barry Drive guy insist upon washing my windscreen on at least 4 occasions when I’ve told him – repeatedly – not to.

He never does it when my husband is in the car with me, only when I’m alone. I’ve heard that’s pretty common for him. The first couple of times I felt ‘guilted’ into paying him a dollar, but not the last time.

I have the right NOT to have my windscreen washed, surely. But if he keeps going after I’ve said no, like he’s doing me some huge favour (very irritating), what’s the best way to stop him, short of violence?

yes, I wave them off all the time. They do the “free wash” all the time to women because they know that a goodly percentage will find some cash.

It’s better just to ignore them if you don’t want your windscreen cleaned. Who carries coins anyway?

I’ve had the Northbourne Ave/Barry Drive guy insist upon washing my windscreen on at least 4 occasions when I’ve told him – repeatedly – not to.

He never does it when my husband is in the car with me, only when I’m alone. I’ve heard that’s pretty common for him. The first couple of times I felt ‘guilted’ into paying him a dollar, but not the last time.

I have the right NOT to have my windscreen washed, surely. But if he keeps going after I’ve said no, like he’s doing me some huge favour (very irritating), what’s the best way to stop him, short of violence?

Violet, if I allow myself to indulge in your ‘we’re all fat arse capitalist pigs’ argument for a moment, can you explain how exactly we ‘reap the benefits’ of the squeegee guys at the lights? Even the people on here who do throw them some coin are saying they do a crap job of it. Seems to me the only people reaping any benefits are the squeegee guys potentially earning a relatively large amount of money, tax free, while on the dole.

And people are allowed to complain when someone wipes grotty water all over their car windscreen. It’s their car, they bought it, they paid for it. So yes, they can whinge if someone comes along uninvited and filths it up.

I’d rather chuck a two dollar coin in the bin than give it to someone who doesn’t deserve it. If these guys can stand around all day washing windscreens then there’s no reason that they couldn’t do plenty of other legitimate jobs. Admittedly not glamorous jobs, but important none the less. But they don’t, because they want cash on the side while getting government benefits. Simple as that.

You want to help? Give your two dollars to someone who really deserves it and clean your own windscreen.

The ‘special’ rule, which allows for any solicitation, selling anything and also hitchhiking too.

Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000
22A ARR r 236
(6)-hitchhiking, roadside commerce etc permitted
(1) For the Australian Road Rules, rule 236 (6)-
(a) a pedestrian may stand on, or move onto, a road to-
(i) solicit contributions, employment or business from an occupant of a vehicle; or
(ii) hitchhike; or
(iii) display an advertisement; or
(iv) sell or offer articles for sale; or

(v) wash or clean, or offer to clean, the windscreen of a vehicle; and

(b) a person in a vehicle may buy, or offer to buy, an article or service from a person standing on a road.

Violet68 said :

Wah!….he made my windscreen dirty. Please remember that living in a capitalist society requires some people existing at the lower end of the socio economic scale so more privileged “others” can reap the benefits. For example public servants that work for Centrelink, FACSIA etc……It’s quite easy to end up at the lower end and quite quickly….for example disability, bankruptcy, illness etc. I say goodluck to these entrepreneurs. Would your 2 bucks really be better spent on a cheesburger to contribute to your fat arses? Oh and there’s a saying “be nice to the people you meet on your way up….cos they will probably be the one’s you meet on the way down”.

I made the mistake of reading this post. Puzzled, I read it several more times, and no matter how hard I try I can’t make sense of any of the content.

V68 is to be congratulated on the incoherence of her prose.

Don’t your cars have windscreen wipers?

I have a button that cleans my windscreen for free.

++ They drive me crazy, i always say no and they still do it, last time the did my rear window and were mucking with my rear wiper. have hit whilst cycling 2 as they crossed into bike lanes without looking, only minor injuries.

who is going to pay the bill and compensation when one gets hit and injured or killed. ACT taxpayers.

AND while were at it lets change the ‘special’ ACT only law that allows them to wander in traffic, I have already written to the minister.

Wah!….he made my windscreen dirty. Please remember that living in a capitalist society requires some people existing at the lower end of the socio economic scale so more privileged “others” can reap the benefits. For example public servants that work for Centrelink, FACSIA etc……It’s quite easy to end up at the lower end and quite quickly….for example disability, bankruptcy, illness etc. I say goodluck to these entrepreneurs. Would your 2 bucks really be better spent on a cheesburger to contribute to your fat arses? Oh and there’s a saying “be nice to the people you meet on your way up….cos they will probably be the one’s you meet on the way down”.

Deckard said :

Jim Jones said :

I usually pay 2 bucks or so.

$2 every 5 minutes = $24/hour = $192/ 8 hour day = $960 a 5 day week = $49,920 a year. Tax free.

Dont forget to add the unemployment benefits they get with their un-declared income.

FFS PEOPLE DONT GIVE THEM ANY MONEY

Give them nothing, I hate them, they made my windscreen filthy, impossible to see through, and they don’t understand “NO”.
Even 20 cents will be too much. Send them to sweep the streets instead.

I give a dollar coin, or a few silver coins. TAx free /on the dole / drugs whatever. Life just cannot be that good as a squeegee guy.

I forgot to clarify that I only gave him a nudge and he was clearly unharmed!

damien haas said :

I saw a gent at the corner of Nortbourne and London CCt, he was almost keeled over a post, while still holding a squeegee. He looked quite ill. I know the gov turn a blind eye to their activities but working on their own in these conditions looks dangerous.

It’s probably the same guy who once half collapsed onto the bonnet of my car at those lights! He then managed to stagger to the median strip to fold over that post just as the lights turned green. I considered calling an ambulance, but then decided against it for some reason. (And was relieved to see him alive the next day!)

Ironically enough, just before that happened I read an interview with him in the CT and he was quite outraged by the common assumption that most of the squeegees have a drug habit.

I also hit one of the squeegees that used to do the corner of Northbourne and MacArthur Ave! I was totally at fault because I didn’t look ahead when I saw a gap in the oncoming traffic and turned onto Northbourne. But he was crossing right in front of my car on the bike lane, going against the flow of traffic. I should have still seen him, but he should not have been there, if you know what I mean. He nearly go hit by another car when he walked off yelling expletives at me over his shoulder.

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

+1

I’m pretty much of the opinion that if I tell them no and they do it anyway, then they get nothing from me. If I actually wanted them to do it, I would say at least a gold coin, twenty cents does seem pretty stingy.

20 cents is a bit tight.

Honestly..that would probably not cover the cost of the Taxation Receipt with the GST component listed and his ABN clearly displayed as required by Australian law.

I’m divided. On the one hand, they’re working. Then again, there’s car washes out there where they could work properly if they tried.
On the other hand, they often give free washes when you don’t have any change… and the soap messes up the glass for weeks.

Jim Jones said :

I usually pay 2 bucks or so.

$2 every 5 minutes = $24/hour = $192/ 8 hour day = $960 a 5 day week = $49,920 a year. Tax free.

I saw a gent at the corner of Nortbourne and London CCt, he was almost keeled over a post, while still holding a squeegee. He looked quite ill. I know the gov turn a blind eye to their activities but working on their own in these conditions looks dangerous.

Pommy bastard said :

I usualness decline the offer, if they choose to do the windscreen after I tell them no, then they are working for free.

+1

What really gets me is when they start someone’s windscreen when it’s obvious that the lights are about to go green. Either they’ll leave a car with a dirty windscreen or they’ll hold up traffic.

Calamity said :

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

Totally agree! I’m happy to give these blokes whatever I can find. Okay, some of them are slightly offensive to the eyes (and nose) – but at least they’re attempting to work for some cash! They get off their butts and perform physical work for long hours – probably the only work they can get! More power to ’em.

You realise these guys get the dole, right?

Try the US if you think they are pushy here…

Dont think I giving away much as I doubt they have computers, but the key is to just clean the closest window as quickly as possible, even if they have said no. You then put your hand out anyway, and most likely get money as people dont want to be rude, or are scared, or whatever.

I have seen some here not even cleaning on a red light because everyone has said no! How are the kids going to eat if you are not cleaning?? (Probably replace “kids” with “him” and “eat” with “get high”.)

2.0 said :

I used to feel a bit sorry for em, but after I said no to the one on Northbourne (I had just that minute picked my car up from getting detailed) and he still proceeded to start putting his filthy water and scum over my windscreen, even after saying No! 3 times and then yelling F*&ck Off!!! I had to put my wipers on to get him away and he still looked at me like I had some nerve to stop him. Junkie scum IMO.

Yeah, I think I know the guy. Have had a similar experience.

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

Totally agree! I’m happy to give these blokes whatever I can find. Okay, some of them are slightly offensive to the eyes (and nose) – but at least they’re attempting to work for some cash! They get off their butts and perform physical work for long hours – probably the only work they can get! More power to ’em.

I usualness decline the offer, if they choose to do the windscreen after I tell them no, then they are working for free.

I used to feel a bit sorry for em, but after I said no to the one on Northbourne (I had just that minute picked my car up from getting detailed) and he still proceeded to start putting his filthy water and scum over my windscreen, even after saying No! 3 times and then yelling F*&ck Off!!! I had to put my wipers on to get him away and he still looked at me like I had some nerve to stop him. Junkie scum IMO.

My partner will avoid the lights at Dickson because the guys working there are so threatening towards women with their rather unsubtle approaches .They, of course, avoid us if there are two people in the car.

I’d be happy to put the arsehats* on a retainer if it meant they understood the meaning of “No thanks mate.”

*I understand not all squeegee men are arsehats, but most of them along Northbourne certainly suit this description.

I don’t particularly like them… but seriously 20 cents is very tight@rse… gold coin minimum (unless they made the windscreen worse)!

I dislike them. They may well be nice guys, but they inevitably leave dirty/greasy marks on your car, and more than once I’ve had to brake sharply when they’ve decided to walk out onto the road with no notice.

PBO said :

Depending on who is washing windows (Lindsay at the corner of Northbourne and Wakefield is my fave) is what guides my gifting. I give him $5 every XMAS wheather he washes my windows or not and i always give $2 or more when he does my windows. I do this because he is well mannered, friendly and he is the original window washing guy. Even gave him a few joints a few years ago.

😀

I agree. I generally give Lindsay a couple of bucks – that guy’s out there in all weathers and he works hard. He should wash his hands, though – I still have the grimy mark on the inside of my A pillar where he hung on to get purchase.

I give them nothing. If they provided a service I needed, I’d think about paying them. But I don’t need people wiping my windscreen.

Captain RAAF said :

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

Actually I’d prefer they did that, or at least tried too, that way there’s a chance they’ll get caught and go do porridge and we’d rid our streets of these filthy Catweezel wannabees!

At least Catweezel had the decency to stalk those kids… oh wait… um, kill them all with fire?

Even though I admit they work hard and it’s better than begging, I can’t stand them. Especially not the Northbourne Ave ones. So I don’t use them either.

Because:
they always leave a film of sticky soap all over the windscreen that makes the wipers useless
they’re way too pushy to my liking and no means no
the one time I didn’t yell no when a guy at the Dickson intersection to clean my window, his timing was all wrong and he had me holding up traffic behind me after the light had gone green
I’ve had to try hard not to hit some of them at times and don’t think they should be allowed to be there. Not as long as they’re on drugs anyway. It’s like Russian roulette!

There used to be an older guy at a Hindmarsh Dr intersection (in Narrabundah) who was always friendly, never pushy, wore a shirt and a bow tie (honestly!) and offered good customer service. I used to pay him $2 occasionally. And gave him a lift once or twice even.

If you are going to pay them – which I think you shouldn’t because it just encourages them – I think 20c is stingy too.

Hamilton said :

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

Actually I’d prefer they did that, or at least tried too, that way there’s a chance they’ll get caught and go do porridge and we’d rid our streets of these filthy Catweezel wannabees!

Jim Jones said :

20 cents really is just a total tightarse act.

I usually pay 2 bucks or so. Some of those blokes are out for looong hours and put a good amount of effort into what they’re doing: ahell of a lot more effort to make a buck than most people in this town.

Whoa Mr Generosity

If they actually did a good job I wouldn’t mind giving them a couple of bucks.
However, the last couple of times i’ve let the guys in Civic do it, they made my window even dirtier because they haven’t been changing their water.

Banned from touching my car now.

i’m surprised they find the time to get to centrelink and avoid paying taxes.
me personally i would prefer they licked my windows as they would have more experience doing that.

Depending on who is washing windows (Lindsay at the corner of Northbourne and Wakefield is my fave) is what guides my gifting. I give him $5 every XMAS wheather he washes my windows or not and i always give $2 or more when he does my windows. I do this because he is well mannered, friendly and he is the original window washing guy. Even gave him a few joints a few years ago.

Cut them some slack – better washing your windscreen than breaking into your house and nicking yout tele for a rock of crack!!

20 cents really is just a total tightarse act.

I usually pay 2 bucks or so. Some of those blokes are out for looong hours and put a good amount of effort into what they’re doing: ahell of a lot more effort to make a buck than most people in this town.

Squeegee man gets nothing, ever, and only in the work car. If he touched my personal car, there’d be hell to pay.