New Yorker makes $100,000 a year reporting traffic offenses as his full time job
Published on Jun 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jun 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An industrious New Yorker makes a professional living reporting traffic offenses.
Yes, you read that right – a New York man makes $100,000 just by snitching on traffic offenders.
The city of New York takes a unique approach to policing traffic offenses.
And this man has managed to turn it into a full-time profession.
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New York City offers incentives to tackle idlers
In case you are unaware, New York City takes a… unique approach to policing traffic offenses.
Essentially, New York City relies on its citizens to report and document such offenses.
On average, New York City has around 700,000 vehicles on its streets every day.
Naturally, it can be pretty difficult to keep track of every single potential infraction of the rules.
As a result, New York City gives its citizens the power to report idling violations.
The City incentivizes such reporting by offering a portion of the fine to the person who reports it.
Any New Yorker who notices a vehicle idling for more than three minutes can send in evidence of the violation.
One New Yorker makes reporting traffic offenses a full-time, six-figure job
The average New York City idling fine is anywhere from around $350 to $600.
And the informer is entitled to a quarter of whatever the fine is worth.
And one New Yorker decided to use the system to create a full-time job for himself.
The man at the center of today’s story goes by the name of ‘Streeter.’
He explained how he has made traffic snitching a full-time job in an interview with CBS News.
Streeter explained: “Shortly after 6, I’m out on my bike, looking for idling trucks.”
“I’m essentially biking 6, 7, 8, 9 hours a day.”
Streeter claims to have been so successful at this that he makes over $100,000 per year.
It is important to note, though, that these fines only apply to non-city buses and trucks.
Additionally, fines can only be collected if the vehicle is documented idling for a minimum of three minutes.
So, for example, a bus can’t be ticketed for dropping off and picking up passengers.
It’s a process that has sparked a very interesting debate in the online community.
What are your thoughts on people being paid to inform on idling drivers?
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
