H.R. 6173: Public Transit Crime Prevention Act

This bill, titled the Public Transit Crime Prevention Act, aims to enhance legal protections for mass transportation systems by amending the United States Code to include specific provisions against vandalism and assault related to these systems. Here's a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Prohibition of Vandalism and Graffiti

The bill seeks to prohibit individuals from engaging in vandalism or graffiti against mass transportation vehicles, facilities, and properties. This includes:

• Defacing, damaging, or destroying: Any deliberate action that alters the appearance or functionality of a mass transit vehicle or facility through graffiti, tagging, or other forms of defacement.
• Possession of tools: Having tools, materials, or equipment intended for vandalism could also lead to penalties if the individual has the intent to commit vandalism.

Penalties for Vandalism

Penalties for those found guilty of vandalism under this act would include:

• Fines and imprisonment: Offenders could face fines, prison time of up to 5 years, or both for ordinary acts of vandalism.
• Aggravated offenses: If the damage exceeds $1,000 or if the offender has prior convictions for similar acts, the punishment could be increased to imprisonment for up to 10 years, in addition to fines.

Prohibition of Assaults on Transportation Workers and Passengers

The bill also aims to protect both transit workers and passengers by prohibiting assaults within the context of mass transportation. This includes:

• Assaults on transit workers: Attacks against operators, conductors, maintenance personnel, or security staff while they carry out their professional duties.
• Assaults on passengers: Attacks targeting passengers aboard transportation vehicles or within associated facilities.

Penalties for Assault

Those convicted of committing assaults related to mass transportation would face serious penalties, which may include:

• Simple assault: Offenders could be subject to imprisonment ranging from 5 to 20 years, along with potential fines.
• Aggravated assault: More severe consequences, including imprisonment for a minimum of 15 years up to 20 years, may be imposed in cases involving the use of weapons, causing serious injury, or repeat offenses.

Restitution for Damages

Upon conviction for either vandalism or assault, the court would be required to order restitution. This means that the offender must cover the total costs for:

• Repairs: Fixing any damage caused to the mass transportation system.
• Cleanup: Cleaning up any mess or graffiti resulting from the vandalism.
• Replacement: Replacing any property that has been destroyed or significantly altered.

Jurisdictional Considerations

The bill specifies that the offenses addressed under this act would apply when:

• Interstate or foreign commerce is affected: The act of vandalism or assault must significantly impact commerce moving between states or countries.
• Federal funding: If the mass transportation vehicle or facility receives federal funds, the provisions of this bill would apply.

Relevant Companies

• UNP (Union Pacific Corporation): As a rail transportation company, Union Pacific may be directly impacted by increased protections and penalties related to vandalism of their transportation assets.
• CSX (CSX Corporation): Similar to Union Pacific, CSX is a major freight transportation company that may also face implications from enhanced legal protections against vandalism and assaults affecting their operations.
• TRAN (TransUnion): While primarily a credit reporting agency, if they provide services to or partner with mass transit systems, they could see implications from how data related to safety and assaults are handled.