Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act

Summary#

This bill would add a new section to Title 49 of the U.S. Code making it a federal crime to assault or intimidate certain passenger train crew members. It defines who counts as a crew member (engineers, conductors, onboard personnel, employees doing safety-sensitive work, and employees at intercity or commuter rail stations). It defines a "dangerous weapon" to include items such as a pocket knife with a blade under 2.5 inches and a box cutter. The bill covers acts that happen onboard a passenger train in operation, on a platform serving a train in operation, or in a rail station. It also covers attempts and conspiracies to commit those acts. Penalties in the bill are fines or up to 8 years in prison, and up to 20 years if a dangerous weapon is used.

What it means for you#

• Crew members: The bill would create a specific federal criminal prohibition against assaulting or intimidating you while you work on a passenger train or at a covered station.
• Passengers: The bill makes certain assaults or intimidation of crew members a federal offense in the places the bill covers.
• General public: The bill sets definitions and penalties but does not include details about enforcement practices or costs in the text provided.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on federal costs, budgetary effects, or appropriations is included in the bill text provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on supporters' statements or legislative findings is included in the bill text provided.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on objections, critiques, or opposing statements is included in the bill text provided.