I’ve never lived in an area where people stood at stoplights and tried cleaning your windshield, but I do now. There is a guy who stands at a few of the lights in Charlotte and if you happen to be the car next to him, he’ll smear his nasty, dirty rag on your windshield and want money. Here’s the deal- I don’t want my car windsheild “washed”. In fact, I wash it myself because any amount of dirt or smeariness results in blinding glare in the sun. So I don’t want this person touching my windshield. I also am not giving this person money or opening my window up to talk to him- there has been a nasty rash of carjackings in the area, and I ain’t opening my window for anyone.
So what am I supposed to do- is there a signal besides waving him off that I should do? I was lucky- the last time I saw him out the light went green, but I’m wondering what to do next time.
We have these guys all over my neighborhood. Some just walk on by when I give the universal “no, thanks” gesture but others are waaayyyy agressive. If they try to touch my windshield I usually honk, hit the wipers with squirt and screech wildly while rolling down the window.
Once I got my wiper hung up on the guys’ squeegee- I went for the repetitive power squirt and hosed him down while he tried to untangle himself as I began to inch my car foreward. <evil laugh smilie>
I really can’t stand this form of panhandleing- it’s like extortion.
Lucky me, I was driving in Manahttan before Rudy was sworn in. I don’t think there’s any sure way to prevent getting your windshield “cleaned”, but I sure wouldn’t give 'em any money. I would, however, expect that you’ll wind up with a greasy windshield at the very least, and hopefully that’s the extent of it.
Perhaps I’m not the best person to give advice, since I haven’t had much luck being…
Passive: I was driving to my High School prom with my girlfriend, and two friends in the back, and we’re all dressed up of course. I just got off the 59th St bridge and was at the light by Second Ave, IIRC. Grubby rag-guy does his thing, I’m polite and say “No thanks”, and he sprays shaving cream all over the windshield. Then he wipes it all over like he’s frosting a cake. He took off running after that.
Agressive: Another time I rolled down my window and told the guy to “get the fuck away from my car” as I drove away. Rag-man rolled over my hood and laid in the street in front of my car. Dar Robinson couldn’t have pulled a better stunt .
Stymied: One time I refused and the schmuck snapped my wiper off, then took off running. I sure couldn’t abondon my car in traffic to chase the guy. I’d swear I heard him laughing, the prick.
Sorry, I have no words of wisdom for you. (But I do have a funny video clip someone sent me, where the car window rolls down and squeegee guy gets blasted with suds.)
Holy crap, what lousy options those are. I hate feeling like I need to just let this person touch my car- I wouldn’t really care if they actually WASHED the windshield, but a greasy rag on your windshield here where the sun is just blinding anyway could be really dangerous.
I’m thinking of making a “no squeegie” sign that I can hold up in my window. Yikes.
I’ve heard of an anti-carjacking device currently legal in South Africa. It involves gasoline being siphoned from the gas tank and into jets located just below the driver’s side door. At the driver’s command, anyone standing by the driver’s window is incinerated.
Well, according to the report here the device will only permanently blind attackers, which seems to be OK with African law makers. I await breathlessly for the upscale U.S. car market to adopt this technology.
Just roll down the window and open fire. I recommend a pump-action 20 gauge, as you’re unlikely to actually kill anyone, whereas anyone who gets hit at close range will definitely lose interest in screwing around with you or your car.
If you really want to cover yourself, make your own loads with rock salt. It’s durn near IMPOSSIBLE to kill anyone with 20-gauge loads of that stuff, but a faceful of it (or a buttful) will definitely teach a lesson not to be forgotten.
You know, I don’t think ANYONE’S ever tried that “wipe your windshield” trick on me, here in Texas…
I dunno. The squeegies in Vancouver when i lived there were pretty respectful. You’d wave them off and most of them would back away (well, not always, but the majority of the time.) The only humane solution (would you spray a stray dog with your windsheild wiper fluid?) is to wave them off and ignore them. If they are too aggressive, chalk it up to that individual person being an asshole.
Afterall, you can’t know everyone’s reasons for being out on the street husseling for quarters, now can you? some people are pretty desperate for reasons out of their control (and yes, I am not so naive I don’t know this is not always the case).
At least they are doing some kind of work and not just sitting their ass on the pavement.
Great suggestions, all-
And I agree, queen- I was just kidding. I don’t hate people who squeegie or beg or anything else, I just don’t want them smearing up my window when I have to drive for an hour into direct sunlight right afterwards. My poor Yankee eyes aren’t used to this…how do you say…sunlight?
Hey Knead- I sent you a super secret message in another thread but either you missed it or thought I was stalking you- wanna have lunch or something sometime? I’m in Charlotte 2-3 times a week and would enjoy meeting you. Lunch? Coffee? Ovaltine?
I work over at CMC Charlotte, and I know how to get there. That’s about it. (but I could likely locate another destination, if one were chosen). Let me know if you want to! suzette100@yahoo.com
(But I do have a funny video clip someone sent me, where the car window rolls down and squeegee guy gets blasted with suds.)