The Public Transit Crime Prevention Act creates two new federal crimes targeting crimes on public transportation systems. First, it makes vandalism and graffiti on mass transit vehicles, facilities, or property punishable by up to five years in prison and fines, with penalties increasing to ten years for repeat offenders or cases involving over $1,000 in damages. Second, it makes assaults against transit workers or passengers federal crimes punishable by five to twenty years in prison, with sentences of fifteen to twenty years or more for aggravated assaults involving weapons, serious injury, or prior convictions. The bill applies to transit systems that affect interstate commerce, are used in interstate commerce, or receive federal funding, and requires courts to order restitution covering repair, cleanup, or replacement costs resulting from vandalism offenses. The legislation does not specify new funding allocations but relies on existing federal law enforcement mechanisms to prosecute these newly defined crimes.
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