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In a significant victory for transit workers across Arizona, the state has enacted a new law, signed in July, which brings strict penalties for assaults on transit workers.

“Our transit workers play an essential role in our communities, ensuring safe and reliable transportation every day,” said Scott Jones, the SMART-TD transit union Safety and Legislative Director (SLD) for Arizona. “When it comes right down to it, my legislative board is sick and tired of people assaulting our brothers and sisters and getting away with it with just a slap on the wrist.”

Brother Jones worked diligently to navigate the complexities of Arizona’s divided state Legislature. His strategic approach and persistent efforts in rallying support were pivotal in overcoming the challenges posed by a fragmented legislative environment.

Jones was joined in his support of his crucial legislation by sponsor Sen. Justine Wadsak (17th District) as well as Rep. Consuelo Hernandez (D-21st District).

“This new law represents a new day in Arizona. If you put your hands on a SMART-TD member or any transit professional, you’re going to have to face real consequences,” Jones said.

“There were times when this bill was getting pushback from Democrats and Republicans alike, and [Wadsak] spoke our members’ truth to power and made everyone see this has nothing to do with politics,” he said. “It is a matter of right and wrong; safety versus violent chaos. She worked side by side with us, and our members and this state are safer for her efforts.”

As Arizona celebrates this new law, SMART-TD and its members can take pride in knowing that their voices made a significant impact. The protection and support of transit workers remain a top priority for SMART-TD, and this legislative victory is a clear demonstration of SMART-TD’s ongoing commitment to securing a safer future for all those who serve our communities through public transit and who use it.

As reported in May, SMART-TD’s Michigan State Legislative Board has been working hard to pass legislation to prevent violent assaults on our transit and freight members in the state.

House Bills 4917 and 4918 both received bipartisan support in Lansing’s House of Representatives thanks to the efforts of SMART-TD’s Michigan State Legislative Director Don Roach and the members of his board. However, they need members’ support to get the bills across the finish line in the Senate and to the governor.

Brother Roach’s two bills add the crime of assaulting a bus operator, transit, or freight railroad employee to the state’s Code of Criminal Procedure in an effort to address the growing number of violent assaults that affect SMART-TD members and others in the transportation industry.

These important bills had overwhelming support in Michigan’s House of Representatives.

On June 20, that support hit a speed bump. When both bills hit the Senate’s Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee, they passed, but did so along party lines.

Logically, preventing and punishing aggravated and felonious assault against railroaders and bus operators should transcend partisan politics. It did in Michigan’s House.

But the partisan nature of the Senate’s committee vote has our SLB in Michigan asking for members to spread the word. Please follow this link to SMART-TD’s action center to send your state senator a prewritten message of support for these bills. YOU could be the difference between life and death for your union brothers and sisters!

As the bill is currently being presented to the Michigan Senate, the penalties for assaulting rail workers or bus operators in the state will be increased to maximum sentences ranging from 93 days to eight years’ imprisonment along with maximum fines ranging from $1,000 to $8,000. Criminal history and the involvement of weapons in the assault dictate where the perpetrator would fall on the scale of punishment.

These bills increase penalties for assaults on our transit professionals and also mandate signage on buses and trains to notify the public of the increase in the severity of charges and penalties. The signs are preventive measures aimed at stopping assaults from happening in the first place.

SLD Roach said they’ve been working on these bills for over two years at this point.

“We have been working on these assault bills with our lead sponsor, Representative Samantha Steckloft (D-19th Dist.), for too long to see them get stalled in the Senate now! We have built a coalition of stakeholders, including the American Civil Liberties Union, and others championing this cause. Our members can’t afford to sit on the sidelines and watch when the stakes of this game are as important as they are with these bills.”

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is encouraging all transit members to submit their comments and ideas to the FTA to assist in their goal of preventing transit worker assault. “..the  FTA is seeking public recommendations on how best to prevent and mitigate assaults, and to answer some of the key questions surrounding transit worker assault.”  Click here to learn more and to leave your comments.