For many car owners in New York, owning a car itself is full of challenges: congested traffic, incessant honking, and headache-inducing parking regulations. The system that requires cars to be moved during “street cleaning hours” adds to the burden on car owners. Sydney Charlet, who recently moved from Austin to New York, saw a business opportunity in this daily hassle and created her own creative side hustle: car sitting service.
In New York City, if a vehicle is not moved during the street cleaning hours, the owner will receive a $65 fine. However, not everyone can leave their work during business hours to move their cars. Some people, in order to hold onto their hard-to-get parking spot, choose to stay in their cars during street cleaning and only temporarily move their cars when the cleaning vehicle actually arrives.
According to Charlet’s introduction on her TikTok channel, her service involves sitting in the car on behalf of the owner to avoid fines for illegal parking. According to city government data, in 2024, New York City issued over 16.1 million traffic and monitoring tickets, and violations of “street cleaning/no parking” regulations are one of the most common offenses.
Charlet promotes her car sitting business through social media and has attracted many New Yorkers who inquire privately about the authenticity of her service. Once she confirms a customer’s interest, she obtains the car’s location and makes arrangements. Keys are usually transferred through the building’s doorman, and she records the entire process through video — from entering the car to leaving it, ensuring transparency and professionalism in her service.
Considering the average parking fine in New York City is around $65 per ticket, Charlet’s service fee remains a cost-effective option. Not only does she help car owners avoid fines, but she also relieves many people of a troublesome chore in their busy lives.
Charlet’s business is thriving, and she is already considering building a team.