Truck-fume tip for free

One of the four New Yorkers who filed complaints with the city about idling commercial trucks — which can earn tipsters rewards of up to $500 — apparently didn’t do it for the money.

“I haven’t received any compensation and I don’t expect to,” said Tevin Grant, 41, who has filed about six complaints.

Still, he added, “If I do get it, I’ll take my family out for dinner.”

Since a new law went into effect in February, the Department of Environmental Protection rewards tipsters who complain about idling vans and buses parked by a curb for more than three minutes, or a minute in a school zone. The reward is about 25 percent of the fines imposed.

Though Grant works as a lawyer for the DEP, his quest to stop gas-guzzling idlers is a personal journey.

“This is not something I’m doing as part of the DEP,” said Grant. “I have to file the complaints as a citizen because it is a citizen complaint.”

The 41-year-old resident of Queens said his mission is to stop the pollution-making habit simply by spreading awareness.

“Diesel pollution is a real problem in New York and everywhere,” said Grant. “They’ve linked increased pollution to early death.”

He added, “If the drivers know that people are watching them, hopefully they will respect the law more.”