NYC bounty hunters earn 25% of fines for catching idling trucks
New York City has implemented a bounty program to combat vehicle idling, allowing citizens to earn 25% of fines for reporting offenders. The initiative was inspired by George Pakenham, who sought to improve air quality after losing a family member to lung cancer. However, a lawsuit has been filed challenging the selective enforcement of the program, which currently exempts certain vehicles from penalties.
- ▪The bounty program was established in 2018 to address vehicle emissions in NYC.
- ▪Citizens can submit video evidence of idling vehicles and receive a portion of the fines, which can range from $350 to $2,000.
- ▪A lawsuit claims that the program's selective enforcement violates laws, as it only applies to buses and trucks while exempting city and state vehicles.
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NYC bounty hunters earn 25% of fines for catching idling trucks Gail Sherman 11:02 am Mon May 25, 2026 Image: Mircea Moira/Shutterstock In 2018, to combat the scourge of vehicle emissions, New York City instituted what amounts to a bounty program for idling vehicles. After losing his non-smoking brother to lung cancer, George Pakenham began a crusade to clean up the city's notoriously poor air quality. He began by politely asking drivers to turn off their engines, explaining the dangers of their emissions. Surprisingly, according to an interview with Sustainable America, about 80% of drivers complied. He made a documentary about his efforts, Idle Threat, to encourage enforcement of the city's existing laws.
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