Missouri legislation would expand protections for bus riders

This year, the penalties for assaulting a bus operator in Missouri got tougher.

Now, the KCATA is trying to do the same thing for our passengers.

The Authority is backing legislation in the Missouri General Assembly that would increase the penalties for anyone assaulting one of our passengers, whether they’re on a bus or at a stop.

“We succeeded in getting extra protections for our operators. Now we are focused on our riders and making sure our entire system is safe for everyone,” said Paul Snider, the KCATA’s chief government affairs officer.

The bill increases the punishment for someone who pushes and intimidates a passenger to a maximum of six months in jail from the current penalty of 30 days or less.

The punishment for someone who commits bodily harm against a passenger would increase to between four and 10 years in jail from a sentence of four years or less.

Great bodily harm inflicted on a passenger would carry a penalty of between 10 to 20 years in jail from the current range of four to 10 years in jail.

The bill is HB 1150. It was introduced by Republican state Rep. Kevin Corlew of Kansas City.