The Auckland Council is to take a tougher stance on intersection windscreen washers.

It's begun pursuing the prosecution of windscreen washers found to be in breach of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw.

Manager of Bylaws and Compliance, Max Wilde, says when the bylaw first came into effect six months ago, staff took an educational approach.

But he says that hasn't stopped people washing in an unsafe way, which makes drivers feel uncomfortable and even threatened.

The court can impose a fine of up to 20-thousand dollars on a person convicted of breaching a bylaw under the Local Government Act.