Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 189--H.F.No. 540
           An act relating to crimes; creating the crimes of 
          unlawfully obtaining services from a provider of 
          regular route transit and unlawfully interfering with 
          a transit operator while the operator is performing 
          his or her duties; prohibiting disruptive behavior on 
          a transit vehicle; providing penalties; proposing new 
          law coded in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [609.855] [CRIMES AGAINST TRANSIT PROVIDERS AND 
OPERATORS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [UNLAWFULLY OBTAINING SERVICES.] Whoever 
intentionally obtains service from a provider of regular route 
transit as defined in section 174.22, subdivision 8, without 
making the required fare deposit or otherwise obtaining the 
consent of the transit operator or other authorized transit 
representative is guilty of unlawfully obtaining services and 
may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.  
    Subd. 2.  [UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH TRANSIT OPERATOR.] 
Whoever intentionally interferes with the transit operator or 
representative while the operator or representative is engaged 
in the performance of official duties is guilty of unlawful 
interference and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.  
    Subd. 3.  [PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.] Whoever, while riding in 
a vehicle providing regular route transit service:  
    (1) operates a radio, television, tape player, electronic 
musical instrument, or other electronic device, other than a 
watch, which amplifies music, unless the sound emanates only 
from earphones or headphones and except that vehicle operators 
may operate electronic equipment for official business;  
    (2) smokes or carries lighted smoking paraphernalia;  
    (3) consumes food or beverages, except when authorized by 
the operator or other official of the transit system;  
    (4) throws or deposits litter; or 
    (5) acts in any other manner which disturbs the peace and 
quiet of another person;  
    is guilty of disruptive behavior and may be sentenced as 
provided in subdivision 4.  
    Subd. 4.  [PENALTY.] Whoever violates subdivision 1, 2, or 
3 may be sentenced as follows:  
    (a) To imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, if the 
violation was accompanied by force or violence or a 
communication of a threat of force or violence; or 
    (b) To the penalty imposed in section 169.89, subdivision 
2, if the violation was not accompanied by force or violence or 
a communication of a threat of force or violence.  
    Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective August 1, 1983, and applies to all 
crimes committed on or after that date. 
    Approved May 19, 1983