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[UPDATE] New Legislation Will Crack Down On Subway Grinding & Groping
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jun 19, 2015
Modified Jun 19, 2015
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By
Lauren Evans
Published Jun 19, 2015
Modified Jun 19, 2015
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[UPDATE BELOW] Grinding against fellow straphangers will soon be a felony misdemeanor crime, thanks to a new bill passed on Thursday.
“I spent many of my years riding the subway,” Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, who sponsored the bill, told the Post. “I witnessed a lot of very disturbing activity that occurs on the subway. Just the other day, there was a report that somebody was masturbating in front of a female rider all the way through Astoria, my district."
UGH. UGHHH. She added:
“Clearly, we have to make sure that the law has adequate punishment. You confine yourself in a small space, and that’s why it’s very important that we have an enhanced penalty when somebody engages in this disturbing behavior.”
The new legislation defines "forcible touching" as touching another person “for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire and with the intent to degrade or abuse.” The bill's language specifically targets individuals who subject another person to sexual contact while "on a bus, train, [or] subway car operated by any transit agency or company," whether its public or private.
It is expected to be signed by Governor Cuomo and take effect on November 1.
But don't get too comfortable: There's still a long way to go before we can reasonably expect a G-rated subway ride.
Update, 5:20 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that the bill would make forcible touching a felony. It will remain a misdemeanor, but carry a harsher maximum sentence of one year in prison or three years' probation.
“Grinding or ejaculating on a victim is a disgusting act that violates not only the individual but all of us who ride the subway, Simotas told ANIMAL. “The law must reflect that these crimes on public transportation are particularly egregious because riders are essentially captives of their attackers.”
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