LANSING – State Representative Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) today threw her support behind a package of bills that will increase the punishments for people who attack public transportation drivers and passengers.
"We should be doing everything we can to encourage the use and growth of public transportation in our communities," Scott said. "Buses, trains and other forms of public transportation keep our environment clean and traffic congestion lower. For many people, a bus is the only way for them to get to their workplace, their doctor's appointment or their school. We need to crack down on those who abuse this privilege."
House Bills 5560-5562, which were passed out of the Judiciary Committee last week, will make it a felony to assault and batter a public transportation employee or passenger. The crime will be punishable by up to 4 years in prison and a fine of $2,000.
Scott noted that 800 bus drivers of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26 in Detroit walked off their jobs last year over crime and safety issues.
"I became a State Representative to serve all the people who want and desire a safe work environment and believed they had no voice outside of their own," Scott said. "People should feel safe when they're using public transportation – it's as simple as that. The reprehensible people who abuse and attack public transportation employees or their passengers need to be punished accordingly. These bills will ensure that these criminals think about the consequences before they act."