Idle bans are the devil’s work.

The Big Apple’s Billy Idol-approved “bounty hunter” idling law to curb pollution unfairly hit private interstate bus companies with a thick cloud of tickets, a new lawsuit contends.

The suit filed by the American Bus Association and a coalition of bus operators argues the idling law violates their constitutional protections by imposing fines on them while exempting government vehicles such as MTA buses from enforcement.

Beyond treating similar modes of transportation “unequally,” the lawsuit also calls out the city’s “bounty-style” Citizens Air Complaint program that gives idle snitches a cut of collected ticket revenue – with some bounty hunters eligible to collect nearly $1 million, records show.

“That framework has contributed to a sharp increase in complaints and enforcement activity,” Fred Ferguson, the association’s president and CEO, said in a statement. 

“At the same time, enforcement is not applied evenly across transportation providers, creating a system that is difficult to navigate and, in many cases, disproportionately affects private motorcoach operators.”

The city’s anti-idling effort has had many strange twists and turns, especially since 2019 when officials launched the Citizens Air Complaint Program giving ordinary citizens a 25% cut of tickets given to vehicles left running motionless for more than three minutes.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio even recruited 1980s punk rocker – and committed environmentalist – Billy Idol the next year to give a “Rebel Yell” against idling vehicles.

“Billy never idles. Neither should you. Idling is polluting. Cut your engine off,” the “White Wedding” rocker urged in an ad campaign.

With fines ranging from $350 to $2,000 for idling and 95% of the complaints substantiated, the rewards add up and have turned the streets into gold for the Big Apple’s citizen enforcers.

Under the program, citizen enforcers are awarded 25% of the fines pursued by the city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and substantiated by the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

If the tattletales go to OATH directly, they can receive 50% of any substantiated offense.

The anti-idling effort has led to more than 4,000 idling summonses against private bus carriers since 2020 , resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and mounting legal costs, according to the lawsuit.

The suit being filed in Manhattan federal court claims the policy unfairly burdens interstate commerce by increasing the cost and risk of entering and operating in the Big Apple.

The policy also conflicts with federal safety rules that often require buses to idle to maintain critical systems such as air brakes, passenger safety equipment, cabin temperatures for passengers, wheelchair accessibility equipment and emissions-control technology, the lawsuit contends.

The ABA argues that the anti-idling bounties foster a “predatory” enforcement environment driven by profit rather than environmental benefit.

“Private motorcoach operators help keep New York City moving by supporting tourism, conventions, student travel, and interstate transportation,” Ferguson said.

“These operators generate significant economic activity while helping reduce congestion by removing dozens of cars from the road with every trip,” he added. “This lawsuit is about ensuring interstate bus operators are treated fairly under the law and that enforcement is applied consistently across all fleets. Modern motorcoaches combine low-emission transportation with advanced technologies designed to improve efficiency, reduce congestion, and support cleaner travel.”

In the city alone, the motorcoach industry claims it generates more than $12.7 billion in economic impact, supports 59,200 jobs, and drives visitor spending annually.

More than 40% of respondents to an ABA survey said they already reduced trips to the city or declined charters due to the current enforcement of the idling, and many warned they may further limit or end service to the city altogether if penalties continue to rise.

The ABA said that the lawsuit — which lists the city of New York and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Garcia as defendants — does not challenge clean air objectives or environmental progress. The DEP enforces the idling law.

Instead, the suit seeks equal enforcement, regulatory consistency, and policies that recognize the role motorcoaches already play in reducing congestion and transportation-related emissions.

It further argues that the city’s transportation policy should encourage group or mass travel transit to reduce traffic congestions, not disproportionately penalize the very operators helping reduce vehicle volume and emissions in New York City.

A city Law Department spokesman, responding to the suit said, “The idling law was designed to protect the health of New Yorkers. We’ll review the case when served.”

The American Bus Association represents bus operators including Academy Express LLC, Academy Lines LLC, Panorama Tours Inc, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Trans-Bridge Lines, Adirondack Trailways of New York, Hampton Jitney, Leprechaun Lines, Niagara Scenic Tours, Coach USA and Greyhouse Lines.