U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) joined bus industry leaders and small business owners to announce the bipartisan Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards (BUSES) Act, legislation created with Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), that would establish federal standards for over-the-road bus idling and address New York City's private enforcement program.

“This bus idling tax is not just bad policy. It is an offense to every principle of access and inclusion this country stands for. Operators are being put in an impossible position: do the job right and risk a fine, or cut corners on safety to beat an arbitrary clock. No one should ever have to make that choice,” said Rep. Gottheimer.

“Bus operators, who often travel across state lines and multiple jurisdictions, should not be forced to navigate a confusing maze of conflicting regulations just to do their jobs,” added Rep. Langworthy. “This legislation creates a commonsense national standard that protects transportation providers from excessive mandates while ensuring they have the flexibility needed to operate safely, especially in regions where safety, traffic, and weather conditions are a legitimate concern.”

The BUSES Act

Under New York City law, buses and trucks may not idle for more than three minutes in the city or for more than one minute adjacent to a school.

The city enforces these rules through the Citizens Air Complaint Program, which pays residents 25% of any fine collected when they report an idling vehicle; residents who file complaints directly with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) can collect 50%. Fines range from $350 to $2,000 per violation, with companies subject to fines up to $15,000.

Some New Yorkers have turned bus bounty hunting into a full-time profession — the top five earners have collectively pocketed an estimated $3.6 million. Complaints under the program have skyrocketed from 49,000 in 2022 to 124,000 in 2024, with more than 62,000 already filed in 2026 alone — putting 2026 on track to be the biggest year yet for complaints, according to Rep. Gottheimer’s office.

The current NYC law makes no clear distinction between a bus sitting idle for no reason and a bus actively serving passengers, according to the bill’s sponsors. In practice, it penalizes operators for basic, legally required operations such as conducting federal safety inspections, loading passengers who are elderly or have disabilities, or keeping passengers at health risk cool during extreme heat.

Correcting Current Issues

Since 2020, more than 4,000 summonses have been issued against private bus carriers in New York City, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Academy Express, a well-regarded New Jersey bus operator, was hit with $120,000 in idling fines in a single day. ABA survey data shows the consequences: 35% of affected operators have reduced trips into New York City, 20% have turned down charters, and 10% have stopped operating in the city entirely.

The bipartisan BUSES Act will:

• Establish a 15-minute federal floor for idling restrictions on over-the-road buses — sufficient time to complete a federally required safety inspection, lower a wheelchair lift, and prevent dangerous heat buildup for passengers.
• End bounty-style enforcement mechanisms tied to bus idling violations.
• Prevent citizen suits from being weaponized against operators for basic operational necessities.

The bill does not eliminate anti-idling laws, authorize unlimited engine operation, or weaken national air quality goals, said officials. Instead, it establishes a narrow, reasonable federal standard that distinguishes between unnecessary idling and the limited engine operation required to transport passengers safely.

The Impact of the Motorcoach Industry

Motorcoaches are among the greenest passenger vehicles in operation — a single fully loaded coach produces up to 80% less CO₂ per passenger than private vehicles on the same route and takes up to 50 cars off the road, according to American Bus Association (ABA) data.

The industry supports nearly 30,000 jobs in New Jersey, with $130 million in wages in NJ-5. In 2024, the motorcoach sector generated a $4.2 billion economic impact in New Jersey and $336 million in output in NJ-5 alone.

“Professional bus operators deserve clear, consistent rules that allow them to focus on safety. The BUSES Act provides the certainty our industry needs while protecting the passengers who depend on motorcoach transportation every day,” said Fred Ferguson, president and CEO of the ABA. “Motorcoaches are already one of the most environmentally responsible group transportation options available. They deliver the lowest carbon emissions per passenger mile while helping relieve congestion by moving more people in fewer vehicles. As policymakers look for safe, efficient ways to expand mobility, buses belong at the center of the solution.”

“A policy intended to reduce emissions created more emissions. That is not good policy. It is not good for the environment,” said Michelle Petelicki, president, Panorama Tours Inc. & Representative of Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association. “That is exactly why the BUSES Act matters. It recognizes the operational realities of passenger transportation while continuing to support the environmental goals we all share.”