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Report: Hampton Roads Transit operators assaulted 96 times in 32 months

The agency has convinced the area's legislators to sign a letter asking Commonwealth's Attorneys to seek jail time when operators are assaulted.

March 24, 2016
Report: Hampton Roads Transit operators assaulted 96 times in 32 months

Hampton Roads Transit

1 min to read


Hampton Roads Transit

NORFOLK, Va. — Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operators were assaulted 96 times from January 2013 to September 2015 — more than any other transit service in Virginia during that 32-month timeframe — according to an HRT analysis, reported the Daily Press.

Of those, 11 were physical assaults, and the remaining 85 were either verbal assaults or threats, said Joe Dillard Jr., HRT's government relations liaison, the report said.

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Althought HRT tried, but failed to have the General Assembly to pass legislation that would mandate active jail time for any person convicted of assaulting an operator, the agency has convinced the area's legislators to sign a letter asking Commonwealth's Attorneys to seek jail time when operators are assaulted, the Daily Press reported.

For the full story, click here.

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