District of Columbia AG Filed Lawsuit Against Greyhound Over Illegal Bus Idling Practices

DECEMBER 10, 2019

District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine filed a lawsuit against the transportation company Greyhound Lines, LLC, for repeatedly leaving the engines of its buses idling for longer than three minutes, in violation of the District’s air pollution control regulations. In the complaint, AG Racine described an investigation conducted jointly by his office and the District’s Department of Energy and Environment, which over a five-day period documented at least 50 instances of Greyhound buses left idling at Union Station beyond the legal time limit. The complaint also noted that vehicle exhaust is the largest source of air pollution in the District of Columbia, and contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular problems among commuters, station workers and the general public.

In May 2020, AG Racine secured a settlement with Greyhound. Under the terms of the settlement, Greyhound will prohibit excessive idling in its nationwide operations, and will implement company-wide training and awareness strategies to ensure its drivers comply with the policy. Greyhound will also pay $125,000 in civil penalties to the District of Columbia.