New York Man Fights Idling Vehicles, Wins Law Change

George 'Skip' Pakenham overcame a childhood stutter to become a crusader for clean air in New York City.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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George 'Skip' Pakenham, a New York City resident for 45 years, has been on a mission to combat air pollution caused by idling vehicles in the city. Despite facing severe stuttering as a child, Pakenham found his voice and started knocking on the windows of idling cars, buses, and trucks, informing drivers that they were breaking the law by idling for more than 3 minutes. His persistence paid off, as he worked with the New York City Council to pass a law allowing citizens to report idling vehicles and receive a portion of the $350 fine.

Why it matters

Pakenham's crusade highlights the significant impact that idling vehicles have on air quality, public health, and the environment. His efforts have brought awareness to this issue and led to tangible policy changes that empower New Yorkers to take action against this source of pollution, which is estimated to cause over 3,000 premature deaths in the city each year.

The details

Over the years, Pakenham has confronted countless drivers, often facing hostile reactions, but he refused to give up. He created a spreadsheet tracking the location, vehicle type, and driver awareness of the idling law. Pakenham also produced an award-winning documentary, 'Idle Threat: Man on Emission,' chronicling his efforts. With the help of a city council attorney, Pakenham secured the support of the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio to pass a law allowing citizens to report idling vehicles and receive a portion of the resulting $350 fine.

  • Pakenham started stuttering at age 10 and had an intense fear of speaking in class.
  • Pakenham began his crusade against idling vehicles in New York City several years ago.
  • The new law allowing citizen reporting of idling vehicles was passed in New York City recently.

The players

George 'Skip' Pakenham

A New York City resident for 45 years who overcame a childhood stutter to become a crusader for clean air, confronting drivers of idling vehicles and working to change the law.

Samara Swanston

An attorney who was in charge of environmental issues for the New York City Council and helped Pakenham secure support for the new law.

Bill de Blasio

The former mayor of New York City who supported the passage of the law allowing citizens to report idling vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“I noticed many parked cars, buses, and trucks idling for as long as an hour despite a New York City unenforced 1971 law that said it was illegal to idle more than three minutes.”

— George 'Skip' Pakenham

“Idling engines in this country consume more than 6 billion gallons of gasoline annually—a significant but also little-known contributor to local air pollution, respiratory disease and global climate change.”

— George 'Skip' Pakenham

What’s next

Pakenham continues his efforts to combat idling vehicles, although at a lesser pace now due to his recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

The takeaway

Pakenham's perseverance in the face of adversity, from overcoming a childhood stutter to taking on a seemingly impossible mission of confronting idling drivers, serves as an inspiring example of how one person can make a significant impact on their community and the environment.