1     
WEAPONS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Norman K Thurston

5     
Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the prohibition on carrying a firearm on a bus.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     eliminates the prohibition of carrying a firearm on a bus with no criminal intent.
13     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14          None
15     Other Special Clauses:
16          None
17     Utah Code Sections Affected:
18     AMENDS:
19          76-10-1504, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 310
20          76-10-1507, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 310
21          77-23a-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 196
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 76-10-1504 is amended to read:
25          76-10-1504. Bus hijacking -- Assault with intent to commit hijacking -- Use of a
26     dangerous weapon -- Penalties.
27          (1) (a) A person is guilty of bus hijacking if the person seizes or exercises control, by
28     force or violence or threat of force or violence, of a bus within the state.
29          (b) Bus hijacking is a first degree felony.
30          (2) (a) A person is guilty of assault with the intent to commit bus hijacking if the
31     person intimidates, threatens, or commits assault or battery toward a driver, attendant, guard, or
32     any other person in control of a bus so as to interfere with the performance of duties by the
33     person.
34          (b) Assault with the intent to commit bus hijacking is a second degree felony.
35          (3) A person who, in the commission of assault with intent to commit bus hijacking,
36     uses a dangerous weapon, as defined in Section 76-1-601, is guilty of a first degree felony.
37          [(4) (a) A person who boards a bus with a concealed dangerous weapon or firearm
38     upon his person or effects is guilty of a third degree felony.]
39          [(b) The prohibition of Subsection (4)(a) does not apply to:]
40          [(i) individuals listed in Subsections 76-10-523(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e);]
41          [(ii) a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon; or]
42          [(iii) persons in possession of weapons or firearms with the consent of the owner of the
43     bus or the owner's agent, or the lessee or bailee of the bus.]
44          Section 2. Section 76-10-1507 is amended to read:
45          76-10-1507. Exclusion of persons without bona fide business from terminal --
46     Dangerous materials -- Surveillance devices and seizure of offending materials --
47     Detention of violators -- Private security personnel.
48          (1) (a) In order to provide for the safety, welfare and comfort of passengers, a bus
49     company may refuse admission to terminals to a person not having bona fide business within
50     the terminal.
51          (b) The refusal may not be inconsistent or contrary to state or federal laws or
52     regulations, or to an ordinance of the political subdivision in which the terminal is located.
53          (c) An authorized bus company representative may require a person in a terminal to
54     identify himself and state his business.
55          (d) Failure to comply with a request under Subsection (1)(c) or to state an acceptable
56     business purpose is grounds for the representative to request that the person depart the
57     terminal.
58          (e) A person who refuses to comply with a request made under Subsection (1)(d) is
59     guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
60          (2) (a) A person who carries [a concealed dangerous weapon, firearm, or] any highly
61     inflammable or hazardous [materials or devices] material or device into a terminal or aboard a
62     bus is guilty of a third degree felony.
63          [(b) The prohibition of Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to individuals listed in
64     Subsection 76-10-1504(4).]
65          [(c)] (b) The bus company may employ reasonable means, including mechanical,
66     electronic or x-ray devices to detect the items concealed in baggage or upon the person of a
67     passenger.
68          [(d)] (c) Upon the discovery of an item referred to in Subsection (2)(a), the company
69     may obtain possession and retain custody of the item until it is transferred to a peace officer.
70          (3) (a) An authorized bus company representative may detain within a terminal or bus
71     any person violating the provisions of this section for a reasonable time until law enforcement
72     authorities arrive.
73          (b) The detention does not constitute unlawful imprisonment and neither the bus
74     company nor the representative is civilly or criminally liable upon grounds of unlawful
75     imprisonment or assault, provided that only reasonable and necessary force is exercised against
76     the detained person.
77          (4) (a) A bus company may employ or contract for private security personnel.
78          (b) The personnel may:
79          (i) detain within a terminal or bus a person violating this section for a reasonable time
80     until law enforcement authorities arrive; and
81          (ii) use reasonable and necessary force in subduing or detaining the person.
82          Section 3. Section 77-23a-8 is amended to read:
83          77-23a-8. Court order to authorize or approve interception -- Procedure.
84          (1) The attorney general of the state, any assistant attorney general specially designated
85     by the attorney general, any county attorney, district attorney, deputy county attorney, or deputy
86     district attorney specially designated by the county attorney or by the district attorney, may
87     authorize an application to a judge of competent jurisdiction for an order for an interception of
88     wire, electronic, or oral communications by any law enforcement agency of the state, the
89     federal government or of any political subdivision of the state that is responsible for
90     investigating the type of offense for which the application is made.
91          (2) The judge may grant the order in conformity with the required procedures when the
92     interception sought may provide or has provided evidence of the commission of:
93          (a) any act:
94          (i) prohibited by the criminal provisions of:
95          (A) Title 58, Chapter 37, Utah Controlled Substances Act;
96          (B) Title 58, Chapter 37c, Utah Controlled Substance Precursor Act; or
97          (C) Title 58, Chapter 37d, Clandestine Drug Lab Act; and
98          (ii) punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year;
99          (b) any act prohibited by the criminal provisions of Title 61, Chapter 1, Utah Uniform
100     Securities Act, and punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year;
101          (c) an offense:
102          (i) of:
103          (A) attempt, Section 76-4-101;
104          (B) conspiracy, Section 76-4-201;
105          (C) solicitation, Section 76-4-203; and
106          (ii) punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year;
107          (d) a threat of terrorism offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of
108     more than one year, Section 76-5-107.3;
109          (e) (i) aggravated murder, Section 76-5-202;
110          (ii) murder, Section 76-5-203; or
111          (iii) manslaughter, Section 76-5-205;
112          (f) (i) kidnapping, Section 76-5-301;
113          (ii) child kidnapping, Section 76-5-301.1;
114          (iii) aggravated kidnapping, Section 76-5-302;
115          (iv) human trafficking or human smuggling, Section 76-5-308; or
116          (v) aggravated human trafficking or aggravated human smuggling, Section 76-5-310;
117          (g) (i) arson, Section 76-6-102; or
118          (ii) aggravated arson, Section 76-6-103;
119          (h) (i) burglary, Section 76-6-202; or
120          (ii) aggravated burglary, Section 76-6-203;
121          (i) (i) robbery, Section 76-6-301; or
122          (ii) aggravated robbery, Section 76-6-302;
123          (j) an offense:
124          (i) of:
125          (A) theft, Section 76-6-404;
126          (B) theft by deception, Section 76-6-405; or
127          (C) theft by extortion, Section 76-6-406; and
128          (ii) punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year;
129          (k) an offense of receiving stolen property that is punishable by a maximum term of
130     imprisonment of more than one year, Section 76-6-408;
131          (l) a financial card transaction offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment
132     of more than one year, Section 76-6-506.2, 76-6-506.3, 76-6-506.5, or 76-6-506.6;
133          (m) bribery of a labor official, Section 76-6-509;
134          (n) bribery or threat to influence a publicly exhibited contest, Section 76-6-514;
135          (o) a criminal simulation offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of
136     more than one year, Section 76-6-518;
137          (p) criminal usury, Section 76-6-520;
138          (q) a fraudulent insurance act offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment
139     of more than one year, Section 76-6-521;
140          (r) a violation of Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 7, Utah Computer Crimes Act, punishable by
141     a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year, Section 76-6-703;
142          (s) bribery to influence official or political actions, Section 76-8-103;
143          (t) misusing public money, Section 76-8-402;
144          (u) tampering with a witness or soliciting or receiving a bribe, Section 76-8-508;
145          (v) retaliation against a witness, victim, or informant, Section 76-8-508.3;
146          (w) tampering with a juror, retaliation against a juror, Section 76-8-508.5;
147          (x) extortion or bribery to dismiss criminal proceeding, Section 76-8-509;
148          (y) obstruction of justice, Section 76-8-306;
149          (z) destruction of property to interfere with preparation for defense or war, Section
150     76-8-802;
151          (aa) an attempt to commit crimes of sabotage, Section 76-8-804;
152          (bb) conspiracy to commit crimes of sabotage, Section 76-8-805;
153          (cc) advocating criminal syndicalism or sabotage, Section 76-8-902;
154          (dd) assembly for advocating criminal syndicalism or sabotage, Section 76-8-903;
155          (ee) riot punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year,
156     Section 76-9-101;
157          (ff) dog fighting, training dogs for fighting, or dog fighting exhibitions punishable by a
158     maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year, Section 76-9-301.1;
159          (gg) possession, use, or removal of an explosive, chemical, or incendiary device and
160     parts, Section 76-10-306;
161          (hh) delivery to a common carrier or mailing of an explosive, chemical, or incendiary
162     device, Section 76-10-307;
163          (ii) exploiting prostitution, Section 76-10-1305;
164          (jj) aggravated exploitation of prostitution, Section 76-10-1306;
165          (kk) bus hijacking[,] or assault with intent to commit hijacking, [dangerous weapon or
166     firearm,] Section 76-10-1504;
167          (ll) discharging firearms and hurling missiles, Section 76-10-1505;
168          (mm) violations of [the] Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 16, Pattern of Unlawful Activity
169     Act, and the offenses listed under the definition of unlawful activity in the act, including the
170     offenses not punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year when
171     those offenses are investigated as predicates for the offenses prohibited by the act, Section
172     76-10-1602;
173          (nn) communications fraud, Section 76-10-1801;
174          (oo) money laundering, Sections 76-10-1903 and 76-10-1904; or
175          (pp) reporting by a person engaged in a trade or business when the offense is
176     punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year, Section 76-10-1906.




Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel