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.