The Citizens Air Complaint Program: Laypeople Reporting Air Pollution Violations in New York City

Air pollution is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes and increased mortality. Nationally, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles produce more than one half of nitrogen oxides and particle pollution, despite comprising only 6% of on-road vehicles. Instituted in 2018, the Citizens Air Complaint Program (CACP) in New York City permits laypeople to file complaints against commercial trucks and buses that idle in excess of the legal limit. Lay complainants receive one quarter of the paid penalty. In 2024, laypeople submitted more than 124 000 complaints for alleged idling infractions. Empowering laypeople to report environmental health code infractions and compensating them to do so is an innovative, critically important complement to public health practice that advances healthy communities. Additional steps are needed to address barriers to participating in the CACP. Lawmakers should consider layperson reporting and remuneration programs for other underenforced public health issues. (Am J Public Health. 2025;115(9):1529-1535. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308137).