This bill adds a new section (28104) to chapter 281 of title 49, United States Code. It makes it a federal offense to assault, attempt to assault, or conspire to assault a passenger train crew member while onboard a passenger train in operation, on a platform serving such a train, or in a rail station that serves passenger trains. The bill defines "crew member" to include engineers, conductors, onboard personnel, employees performing safety-sensitive functions, and employees working at stations with ticketing, check-in, baggage claim, or boarding duties. It relies on existing federal definitions for "dangerous weapon" and "serious bodily injury." The statute sets penalties ranging from fines and up to 6 months in prison for a basic offense, with higher maximum terms for aggravated cases, up to 20 years in some circumstances.
If you assault or try to assault a listed crew member while on a passenger train in operation, on a platform serving a running passenger train, or in a rail station that serves passenger trains, you could face federal criminal charges. The law covers attempts and conspiracies as well as completed assaults. The bill lists who counts as a crew member and specifies higher penalties for actions such as striking, beating, wounding, using a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury, or acting with intent to commit murder or other serious crimes.
No publicly available information.
The bill text states its purpose is to prosecute the assault or intimidation of passenger train crew members as a federal crime in a manner consistent with prosecution for assault or intimidation of aircraft crew members. Sponsors listed in the bill metadata include Laura Gillen, Jefferson Van Drew, Seth Moulton, André Carson, and Michael Lawler.
No publicly available information.