What's happening
This bill expands third degree assault to include causing physical injury to public transportation workers or passengers.
Why it matters
Expands Protection for Transit Workers and Passengers. By including physical injury against public transportation workers and passengers in third degree assault, the bill aims to address rising concerns about safety for those who operate or use public transit systems.
Increases Legal Consequences for Transit-Related Assaults. This amendment means that individuals who harm bus drivers, subway operators, school bus drivers, ticket agents, or even fellow passengers could face more serious criminal charges, potentially serving as a deterrent.
Targets Public Safety in Shared Spaces. The bill recognizes the essential role of public transportation in daily life and seeks to provide additional legal safeguards in these often crowded and vulnerable environments, where assaults can disrupt service and threaten broader community security.
Clarifies Accountability. By specifying that offenders must know (or should reasonably know) the victim is working or is a passenger, the law aims to ensure that those who target transit workers or users are held appropriately accountable, closing previous gaps in protection.
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Who cares
Transit operators, taxi drivers and school bus drivers
The bill would add a third-degree assault provision for causing them physical injury when the accused knows or reasonably should know they are performing their duties.
Passengers on transportation for hire
The bill would cover physical injury to passengers on buses, taxicabs, aerial tramways, subways and other motor vehicles for hire when the accused knows or reasonably should know the victim is a passenger.
Station agents and ticket agents
The bill would cover physical injury to these transportation employees when the accused knows or reasonably should know they are performing their duties.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys
The bill would create an additional basis for third-degree assault charges involving specified transportation workers and passengers.
Headline styles
Protect Transit Workers and Riders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Transit Workers
In Senate Committee · Codes · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1512
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to assault in the third degree
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 120.00 of the penal law is renumbered subdivision 4, and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. such person causes physical injury to an operator, driver, or passenger on a bus, taxicab, aerial tramway, subway, or other motor vehicle, used for the transportation of persons for hire, or to a school bus driver, a station agent or ticket agent for the entity providing the transportation, and such person knows or reasonably should know that the victim, in the case of an operator, driver, or agent, is engaged in the performance of such victim's duties, or is a passenger; or
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01548-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.