Jan 27, 2008 12:02 pm US/Eastern
Lawmaker Pushes Harsh Penalties For Bus Violence
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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One lawmaker introduces five pieces of legislation that would mean harsh punishment for anyone who attacks a person on buses.
Harsh punishment is what one lawmaker wants for anyone who attacks someone on a bus. This follows a series of attacks on MTA buses.
Dennis Edwards reports there are five pieces of legislation aimed at violence and bad behavior on MTA buses. They include 15 and 20-year prison terms for anyone convicted of assaulting bus passengers or drivers.
In December, a woman was beaten on board a Hampden MTA bus after a confrontation with nine middle school students.
Later that month, two men were beaten during an assault involving adult suspects on a Brooklyn bus.
"I guess you would say the recent activities in the last several months kind of became the straw that broke the camel's back. That it was time to do something now," said Delegate Melvin Stukes.
Stukes represents the 44th District, and he's also a customer service representative for the MTA.
Stukes has introduced five bills that could make assaulting a bus driver punishable with a mandatory 20-year prison term and 15 years for assaulting a passenger.
Vulgar language and harassing or assaulting senior citizens could also bring stiff penalties.
"All of the above. They should of been there because the streets is not getting better, they getting worse. And every generation, they're getting worse," said MTA bus driver Yolonda Winkey.
A public transportation advocacy group is reviewing Stukes' bill.
They believe it's a step in the right direction, but not enough to totally solve the problem.
"I think this is a good way to deal with the attacks like the one that happened down in Brooklyn. I don't know how much effect it would have on the kids in middle school. I don't know that they think in these terms at all," said Edward Cohen from the Transit Riders Action Council.
Riders at the Mondawmin MTA stop say the problem is out of control.
Most support any action to get the youths under control.
"I saw the picture of the bruised lady you know on TV, and you could put somebody's eye out. You could blind 'em or you could end up killing them. So something had to be done about a drastic situation," said John Fedd.
Stukes tells
Eyewitness News his bills are set for a General Assembly public hearing in about two weeks. He expects passage with some modifications to the penalties.
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