Upgrading Transit,
Intercity Bus & School Bus Security

Increased Penalties for Assault of Transit, Intercity Bus & School Bus Employees

Due to the nature of their employment, which includes handling money, dealing with complaints, working alone, working late, and enforcing regulations, transit employees are vulnerable to horrific criminal acts.

Moreover, when transit workers, especially those individuals who operate vehicles, are assaulted in the course of performing their duties, the safety of every individual on board the vehicle is placed in immediate jeopardy. With mass transit ridership at record levels, more innocent people are at risk each day.

While more than 20 states provide for increased penalties for assaulting transit and school bus operators, the penalties are too often misdemeanors. In addition, unless transit agencies post notices alerting customers about the existence of these laws, criminals will not be deterred from committing these heinous crimes.

No Fare for Off-Duty Police Officers on Transit Vehicles

Now more than ever, we need to encourage law enforcement officials – on or off-duty – to ride public transportation whenever possible. From petty crimes to major acts of terrorism, transit is always a target, and many transit systems have implemented policies allowing police officers to ride for free in an effort to enhance safety and security.

However, where such policies have been missing, legislatures have acted in the interest of the public. For example, when a gunman fatally shot numerous innocent people on the Long Island Railroad in the 1990’s, the New York State Legislature passed a bill implementing a no fare program for certain police officers riding transit in the interest of public safety and security. Under this unique legislation, the transit agency is able to control its security costs by requiring police officers who ride without cost to register and indicate their regular working hours.

As a result of this legislation and similar policies across the nation, there have been numerous criminal incidents that have been thwarted by police officers, who are always “on-duty.”

Requiring Working Communication Devices on All Transit Vehicles

Recognizing that transit is a terrorist target, the California Legislature in 2002 passed a bill that requires every transit bus in the state to be equipped with a two-way communication device that enables the driver to contact transit agencies in the event of an emergency.

In addition, the bill requires the devices to be maintained in good working order. This simple legislation, which also requires that transportation agencies make the purchase and maintenance of two-way communication devices a priority, could one day save lives and should be a model for the rest of the country.