Tri-Cities car wash opens in spite of WA governor’s stay-at-home order for coronavirus
A Tri-Cities car wash chain became the latest business to open to customers despite the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home order.
Bush Car Wash opened to a steady stream of vehicles at its seven locations across the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla on Tuesday.
The largely automated car washes were staffed by two to three employees, wearing masks and gloves, who took payments and guided drivers.
“We have listened to the advice of local authorities and will also be following guidelines of our governor,” the business posted on Facebook.
The decision came after the business previously posted it would be closed until May 5 to comply with the state’s extension of the stay-home order.
Car washes are among the non-essential businesses that Gov. Jay Inslee ordered closed in an attempt to slow the coronavirus.
The stay-at-home order is expected to end on May 4, but Inslee has not laid out a road map for how and when the restrictions will be lifted.
The car wash chain has contracts with police and fire agencies to clean their public vehicles, and cities wanted him to open up again, Tim Bush, the chain’s managing member, told the Tri-City Herald.
The car wash provides cleaning for Richland, West Richland, Pasco, Walla Walla and College Place police and fire vehicles.
“Well our main intent was to give back to first responders,” he said. “The police have been concerned about their cars being cleaned. Why would you pay a policeman to wash their car? We want to take care of them.”
He said cleaning the outside of the car also would wipe away any coronavirus droplets that ended up on the outside of the car.
It’s unclear how long the coronavirus can exist on the outside of a vehicle.
While Richland police normally use Bush Car Wash, city officials say they haven’t asked them to open, said spokeswoman Hollie Logan said.
“We have had to find alternate means to wash them which have been working fine,” she told the Herald.
Pasco officials did ask for the car wash to open again after hearing that a Western Washington business was back to keeping police cars clean, said Jon Funfar, city spokesman.
“The city has been advocating for equal treatment,” he said.
West Richland police were among some of the first police cars to visit the car wash.
“BUSH CAR WASH is open!!” West Richland police posted on Facebook. “WRPD vehicles getting much needed baths.”
The car wash is providing a free car wash to any first responders or medical personnel through the end of April.
Safety precautions
Bush said car wash officials are taking steps to make sure that their employees stay at a safe distance. They’ve limited the number of staff working. They’ve closed off the vacuum areas, and kept people moving through the cleaning process.
“All of our employees have masks and gloves. We are totally adhering to the government guidelines,” Bush said. “It takes about three minutes.”
They’re also asking people to stay in their vehicles, and are having employees try to stay at an arm’s length.
For some of their customers, those that are signed up through their unlimited service, they simply scan a bar code on a sticker, and don’t need to have any contact with customers at all.
While the car wash said they listened to advice from local authorities and talked to health officials, Bush didn’t say who they consulted.
The Benton Franklin Health District has no record of someone calling from any car wash, said Kathleen Clary-Cooke with the district.
Bush Car Wash may be breaking ranks by offering car washes, but it’s not the first business to open up in spite of the stay-at-home order. Gun shops across the Tri-Cities have been doing business since the order went into effect.
While the state set up an online complaint form to report businesses that are possibly violating the state order, they are relying on local “agencies responsible for public safety” to enforce it, according to the governor’s office.
It’s unclear the car wash will face any complaints. The announcement that it was opening again was met with near unanimous applause by people on Facebook.
“There’s been no push back anywhere,” Bush said. “It’s all been encouraging.”