Calling All Rats

Submitted by ub on

Have you ever witnessed a vehicle idling, while spewing toxic fumes into the air that you are breathing? NYC is offering cold cash for all tipsters, or rats as they call them in some circles. Are the Big Apple streets paved with gold?

If you see a commercial vehicle idling for 3 minutes or for 1 in a school zone, turn them in and win.

The payout is 25 percent of the fines, which could be as low as $350 and high as $2K for repeat offenders.

Time-stamped photos or videos are all the evidence required to file a complaint with the city Department of Environmental Protection.

Since a new law went into effect in February, the agency has received 210 citizen complaints that led to 61 summonses, 20 of which were sent to the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Try it, you'll like it. Not to mention its good for the environment.

NYC motor vehicles idling is an intractable environmental issue but the law is difficult to enforce. This is what you can do.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/air/citizens-air-complaint-form.pdf