New York State seeks to ban riders convicted of assault from buses and subway

New York City’s subway is one of the busiest transit systems in the world, with trains running 24 hours a day. Millions of New Yorkers are taking the subway daily. However, personal safety and security still remain the no.1 concern among NYC subway riders. As many as 60 percent of New Yorkers, who participated in the MTA survey, cited safety as one of the top reasons for using the transit system less frequently.  

Recently, NY Governor Kathy Hochul proposed to expand a law passed in April 2020. This law allows judges to ban people convicted of unlawful sexual conduct against passengers, customers, or MTA employees or assault against MTA employees from using mass transit services for up to 3 years. Gov. Hochul seeks to extend the 2020 law to individuals who assault passengers, customers, or MTA contractors.

“These provisions would encourage a return to ridership by reducing the likelihood of encountering dangerous individuals and deterring violent behavior in the MTA system,” the memo says.” This bill is necessary to implement the FY 2024 Executive Budget because it promotes safety and increased ridership in the MTA system.”

Public safety plays a key role in the MTA’s ridership recovery. In 2022, New York City’s subway system carried more than one billion riders, setting a new pandemic-era record. However, the subway ridership has not yet fully recovered. On Sunday, February 5, 1.6 million riders hopped on the train in New York City, which is 71.8 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The MTA depends on riders, as more than 38 percent of the agency’s revenue comes from tolls and fares. 

Previously, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have proposed and implemented different approaches to reducing the number of violent crimes on the NYC subway. In April of 2022, Mayor Adams doubled the number of police officers patrolling the subway system following the mass shooting on a train in Sunset Park. The city’s subway would also expand its surveillance system. By 2025, the MTA plans to install two security cameras inside each subway car.  

In August 2022, the MTA urged a judge to issue the first ban on the subway rider accused of assaulting the agency’s workers. The recent data suggests that there were 42 total harassment and assault incidents against the MTA workers in the week beginning January 23, 2023. However, although these additions to the law may help improve the safety of subway workers and passengers, it remains unclear how the MTA plans to enforce this ban. 

Resources:

“Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) Memorandum in Support” (New York State, 2023)

“New York State wants to ban ‘dangerous’ people in NYC subways,” by Shaye Weaver (Time Out, 2023)

“Kathy Hochul proposes wider MTA ban on dangerous people in NYC subways,” by Zach Williams (New York Post, 2023)

“Governor Hochul Proposes Banning ‘Dangerous People’ From The Subway,” by Brianna Perry (Secret NYC, 2023)

“New York MTA Seeks First Rider Ban for the Assault of a Subway Worker,” by Skylar Woodhouse (Bloomberg, 2022)