Earnings calculator
What's an idling complaint actually worth?
Complaints per month × average penalty × 25% share × the real upheld rate. Defaults are computed from 326,209 OATH hearing records — adjust them to your scenario.
Earnings arrive months after filing (hearing + collection lag) and are taxable income. Estimates only — not financial advice.
Source: NYC Open Data, OATH Hearings Division Case Status · DEP idling summonses · as of June 2026 · calculator defaults are dataset-derived · methodology
How to read this number
The calculator is an expected-value model: it discounts every complaint by the historical 96.6% upheld rate rather than assuming you win them all, and it uses penalties as actually imposed at OATH rather than the statutory minimum. The biggest lever is volume — which depends on how many idling trucks your routine puts you in front of, and whether your camera setup lets you capture compliant 3-minute videos without standing around holding a phone. Read the full guide before filing your first complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the calculator defaults come from?
Directly from NYC OATH hearing records (as of June 2026): average upheld penalty $742, upheld rate 96.6% of decided cases, and the statutory 25% complainant share. Nothing is assumed except how many complaints you file.
Why use the upheld rate instead of assuming every complaint pays?
Because not every complaint results in a collected penalty. Some are dismissed, and payment only happens after the city collects. Multiplying by the historical upheld rate gives an honest expected value, not a best case.
Is this realistic as a side income?
The math is real but the work is real too: each complaint needs 3+ minutes of compliant video plus filing time, and payment lags months behind filing. Median upheld penalty is $600, so a typical complaint nets about $150 — before taxes.