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Delivery truck in New York City: An engine idling can be expensive
Photo: Ron Adar / picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com
Former computer specialist Paul Slapikas has found an unusual and lucrative way to supplement his pension: He reports to the New York City Environmental Protection Agency trucks that are parked with their engines running for no apparent reason.
At best, he can collect a quarter of the fine that is levied on the company whose car he reported.
Last year, Slapikas earned $64,000 this way, reports the New York Times.
The retiree's source of income stems from conservation programs first introduced by city officials in the 1970s.
Since then, there have been strict rules in the US metropolis as to when and where a truck driver can leave the engine running and, above all, when not.
Ice cream trucks, for example, are allowed to keep their engines running to cool their goods, even when they are standing still to sell those goods.
However, if the driver leaves the engine running so that the air conditioning cools his workplace while loading or unloading, it is his turn.
At least if it exceeds the specified maximum idle time of three minutes.
Camouflage is important
Exactly this period of time, plus ten seconds extra, must be documented by video, the New York Environmental Protection Agency explains on the program's website.
Exactly for this period of time, Slapikas has his hidden iPhone film an idle parked truck as he shows the reporters of the »New York Times« how he earns his money.
Outwardly he pretends to be a tourist, fiddling with a map of the city, with a camera slung around his neck and pretending to make a call on his old clamshell phone.
He tries to get the company logo on the door of the car in the picture and to make sure that the engine noise can be heard well.
The camouflage is important because truck drivers may not respond sympathetically when they realize they are being filmed for an environmental ad.
Attorney Ernest Welde, who specializes in environmental law, tells the newspaper that he always expects to be attacked.
He has called the police several times after truck drivers physically assaulted him or stole his bags.
$200,000 for a particularly eager citizen
The bottom line is that the effort is also worthwhile for him, at least in theory.
As one of around 20 particularly active participants in New York's "Citizens Air Complaint Program", around 2000 of the 12,000 reports in 2021 went to his account.
He brought in nearly $800,000 in revenue for the city, of which he is entitled to about $200,000.
A handsome side income.
But also one that Welde is still waiting for.
The authority apparently has trouble processing the large number of reports.
In the past, this was a secondary task for an employee who had to process a handful of reports, explains the deputy head of the responsible department.
However, since citizens have been offered a share of the fine if they report idle violations, the number of reports has risen dramatically.
14 employees are now working on the topic.
The hurdles of bureaucracy
If you want to report a bus or truck driver, it is not enough to record a video and send it to the authorities by e-mail.
The videos must be time-stamped, screenshots must show the vehicle's license plate and company advertising.
In addition, an affidavit on the incident must be submitted.
If you report a bus, you also have to include a screenshot from an app from the weather office, "which clearly shows that the outside temperature at the time of observation was over 40℉
(editor's note: 4.4°C)
".
And even then, the process does not end.
If the proceedings lead to a court hearing, you have to be ready for the court hearing in person or by phone, according to the environmental authority.
Once that's gone through and the company pays the fine—roughly $350 for three minutes—you still have to claim the "bounty" you're entitled to from the "Accountant's Office."
To do this, you first have to apply for a supplier number from the city and use it to request the money using an electronically signed W9 form.
So it's no wonder that fewer than two dozen of the city's millions of residents regularly go through this official process.
It's "a full-time job," says Paul Slapikas.
But apparently one that's worth it.
At least if you want to take on the windmills of bureaucracy in addition to angry truckers.