Representatives from the bus drivers' union at Florida's Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority issued a warning this week against violent passengers.
“Please leave the drivers alone,” said union representative April Murphy. WFLA-TV. “Soon the drivers will start fighting back. There are tough people, girls and guys, so the passengers will lose. Right? [if] If that happens, someone will get knocked out. ”
Image source: WFLA-TV video screenshot
The department said Murphy's warning was issued after a video showed a passenger punching a bus driver in Clearwater after failing to pay his fare. Timestamps on the video show the attack occurred just after 3 p.m. on Dec. 22.
“The footage showed a woman who appeared to be agitated, leaning over the safety barrier and punching the driver multiple times,” Murphy pointed out to WFLA.
Police are still searching for a suspect wanted on battery charges, the department said.
Murphy told WFLA, adding, “Our drivers are constantly under threat of some sort every day.”
She also told the station that she had also been attacked. She said: “Someone hit me with a cane…a real thick wooden cane…I got a bruise here, I got a bruise here.”
“People hit me in the face,” transit driver Kevin Sablan told WFLA. [try] To call me by a certain racial name. ”
He also told police, “I've had multiple incidents with the same man, but he's just told me he's not allowed to ride the bus.'' But he continues to ride the system and has problems with other drivers. ”
How are people reacting?
Commenters react to WFLA facebook post It was clearly in the bus driver's corner about this situation.
- “Sadly, they are doing their job and serving our community. [respect] Either you ride or you don’t,” said one commenter. I have written.
- Another commented: “Carry your pistol! Problem solved.” was suggested.
- “Counterclockwise!” another commenter said. declaredwhich is an abbreviation for carrying a concealed weapon.
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