Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 1993


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1993. Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence against mass transportation systems

      (a) General Prohibitions. - Whoever willfully - 
        (1) wrecks, derails, sets fire to, or disables a mass
      transportation vehicle or ferry;
        (2) places or causes to be placed any biological agent or toxin
      for use as a weapon, destructive substance, or destructive device
      in, upon, or near a mass transportation vehicle or ferry, without
      previously obtaining the permission of the mass transportation
      provider, and with intent to endanger the safety of any passenger
      or employee of the mass transportation provider, or with a
      reckless disregard for the safety of human life;
        (3) sets fire to, or places any biological agent or toxin for
      use as a weapon, destructive substance, or destructive device in,
      upon, or near any garage, terminal, structure, supply, or
      facility used in the operation of, or in support of the operation
      of, a mass transportation vehicle or ferry, without previously
      obtaining the permission of the mass transportation provider, and
      knowing or having reason to know such activity would likely
      derail, disable, or wreck a mass transportation vehicle or ferry
      used, operated, or employed by the mass transportation provider;
        (4) removes appurtenances from, damages, or otherwise impairs
      the operation of a mass transportation signal system, including a
      train control system, centralized dispatching system, or rail
      grade crossing warning signal without authorization from the mass
      transportation provider;
        (5) interferes with, disables, or incapacitates any dispatcher,
      driver, captain, or person while they are employed in
      dispatching, operating, or maintaining a mass transportation
      vehicle or ferry, with intent to endanger the safety of any
      passenger or employee of the mass transportation provider, or
      with a reckless disregard for the safety of human life;
        (6) commits an act, including the use of a dangerous weapon,
      with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to an
      employee or passenger of a mass transportation provider or any
      other person while any of the foregoing are on the property of a
      mass transportation provider;
        (7) conveys or causes to be conveyed false information, knowing
      the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged
      attempt being made or to be made, to do any act which would be a
      crime prohibited by this subsection; or
        (8) attempts, threatens, or conspires to do any of the
      aforesaid acts,

    shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty
    years, or both, if such act is committed, or in the case of a
    threat or conspiracy such act would be committed, on, against, or
    affecting a mass transportation provider engaged in or affecting
    interstate or foreign commerce, or if in the course of committing
    such act, that person travels or communicates across a State line
    in order to commit such act, or transports materials across a State
    line in aid of the commission of such act.
      (b) Aggravated Offense. - Whoever commits an offense under
    subsection (a) in a circumstance in which - 
        (1) the mass transportation vehicle or ferry was carrying a
      passenger at the time of the offense; or
        (2) the offense has resulted in the death of any person,

    shall be guilty of an aggravated form of the offense and shall be
    fined under this title or imprisoned for a term of years or for
    life, or both.
      (c) Definitions. - In this section - 
        (1) the term "biological agent" has the meaning given to that
      term in section 178(1) of this title;
        (2) the term "dangerous weapon" has the meaning given to that
      term in section 930 of this title;
        (3) the term "destructive device" has the meaning given to that
      term in section 921(a)(4) of this title;
        (4) the term "destructive substance" has the meaning given to
      that term in section 31 of this title;
        (5) the term "mass transportation" has the meaning given to
      that term in section 5302(a)(7) of title 49, United States Code,
      except that the term shall include schoolbus, charter, and
      sightseeing transportation;
        (6) the term "serious bodily injury" has the meaning given to
      that term in section 1365 of this title;
        (7) the term "State" has the meaning given to that term in
      section 2266 of this title;
        (8) the term "toxin" has the meaning given to that term in
      section 178(2) of this title; and
        (9) the term "vehicle" means any carriage or other contrivance
      used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on
      land, water, or through the air.



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