The Corporation of Hamilton is to get a grip on car washers after complaints some are drunk and abusive.

Annual licences, costing $100, will be brought in to restrict washers to particular car parks. Those who misbehave will be banned.

Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt said the scheme will start in the next couple of weeks with the fees paying for identity cards and T-shirts for car washers.

He said some car washers harassed women and had to be barred while a few years ago a car washer was given the keys to a BMW and crashed it after going on a bender.

The Corporation is sympathetic to people trying to earn an honest living, providing a popular service and who might otherwise struggle to hold down a job, said Mr. Sherratt.

However he said: "Some guys down there harass women who don't want to have their cars washed. People are entitled to park and not be harassed."

He said some washers took money ahead of time and then did the job badly or not at all while some drank alcohol and got very loud and obnoxious.

"We have had one occasion where a car washer was given the keys to a BMW in Par-La-Ville car park and decided to take it for a drive to St. George's.

"He went for a few too many drinks drove back, crashed it in Hamilton parish and abandoned it. The car was badly damaged.

"There was one fellow in City Hall car park who on a daily basis would get drunk and be very rude to anyone who didn't want their car washed then be very rude to everyone once he got very drunk and out of control.

"We have banned him from our car parks.

He said motorists would be advised about hiring a car washer.

"This will include advice such as not paying them in advance, not handing your keys over and not giving them money to purchase your daily pay and display sticker."

He said some washers kept the cash and only put it in the machine when they spotted a warden coming.

If the warden got to the car before the washer it meant the owner was then left with a $50 ticket they hadn't expected while the Corporation had been defrauded of revenue said Mr. Sherratt.

The rules are still being worked on by the Corporation's Street Committee, headed by Alderman David White.

They are likely to stipulate a limit on car car washers in each of the City car parks. Permit holders will not be allowed to swap locations and will have to carry their ID and wear a T-Shirt with "car washer" and their name and/or nickname.

Car washers may politely ask a motorist if they wish to have their vehicle washed once but there will be no swearing or drinking on the job.

Mr. Sherratt added the scheme would start out at City Hall, Number One Shed and Par-La-Ville car parks.

"Licensing the car washers and setting down strict rules for them to follow will, hopefully, help to solve some of the problems we have had with them in the past.

"We must also stress they will not be employed in any way by the Corporation and that motorists use the car washers entirely at their own risk."

Planning permission has been granted for a motorised drive-through car washing service in Bull's Head car park. Bull's Head Car Care Centre Ltd plans to offer repairs, sell motor products and other goods at a plot opposite the back of the Masters building. Corporation of Hamilton Secretary said the service should be up and running by September at the car park which is having 270 parking spaces added to it by spring.