Criminal Offenses Relating to Bus Passenger Safety

Utah Code tit. 76, ch. 76-9, pt. 76-9-P15

in effect

Utah Code § 76-9-1501 Definitions.

76-9-1501. Definitions. As used in this part: (1) (a) "Bus" means a passenger bus or coach or other motor vehicle having a seating capacity of 15 or more passengers operated by a bus company for the purpose of carrying passengers or cargo for hire. (b) "Bus" includes a transit vehicle, as defined in Section 17B-2a-802, of a public transit district under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Public Transit District Act. (2) (a) "Bus company" or "company" means a person, group of persons, or corporation providing for-hire transportation to passengers or cargo by bus upon the highways in the state, including passengers and cargo in interstate or intrastate travel. (b) "Bus company" or "company" includes local public bodies, public transit districts, municipalities, public corporations, boards, and commissions established under the laws of the state providing transportation to passengers or cargo by bus upon the highways in the state, whether or not for hire. (3) "Charter" means a group of persons, pursuant to a common purpose and under a single contract, and at a fixed charge in accordance with a bus company's tariff, which has acquired the exclusive use of a bus to travel together to a specified destination or destinations. (4) "Passenger" means a person transported or served by a bus company, including persons accompanying or meeting another being transported, any person shipping or receiving cargo, and any person purchasing a ticket or receiving a pass. (5) (a) "Terminal" means a bus station or depot or any other facility operated or leased by or operated on behalf of a bus company. (b) "Terminal" includes: (i) a transit facility, as defined in Section 17B-2a-802, of a public transit district under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 8, Public Transit District Act; and (ii) a reasonable area immediately adjacent to: (A) a designated stop along the route traveled by a bus operated by a bus company; or (B) a parking lot or an area adjacent to a terminal. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1502 Bus hijacking.

76-9-1502. Bus hijacking. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits bus hijacking if the actor seizes or exercises control, by force or violence or threat of force or violence, of a bus within the state. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a first degree felony. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1503 Assault with intent to commit bus hijacking.

76-9-1503. Assault with intent to commit bus hijacking. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits assault with intent to commit bus hijacking if the actor intimidates, threatens, or commits assault or battery toward a driver, attendant, guard, or any other person in control of a bus so as to interfere with the performance of duties by the person. (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a violation of Subsection (2) is a second degree felony. (b) A violation of Subsection (2) is a first degree felony if the actor used a dangerous weapon during the violation. Enacted by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1504 Unlawful discharge of a firearm or hurling of a missile into a bus or terminal.

76-9-1504. Unlawful discharge of a firearm or hurling of a missile into a bus or terminal. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) Except as provided in Subsection (4), an actor commits unlawful discharge of a firearm or hurling of a missile into a bus or terminal if the actor discharges a firearm or hurls a missile at or into a bus or terminal. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony. (4) This section does not apply to elected or appointed peace officers or commercial security personnel who discharge firearms or hurl missiles in the course and scope of the peace officer's or commercial security personnel's employment. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1505 Unlawful conduct while on a bus.

76-9-1505. Unlawful conduct while on a bus. (1) (a) As used in this section, "controlled substance" means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-37-101. (b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits unlawful conduct while on a bus if the actor: (a) threatens a breach of the peace, is disorderly, or uses obscene, profane, or vulgar language on a bus; (b) is in or upon any bus while unlawfully under the influence of a controlled substance; (c) fails to obey a reasonable request or order of a bus driver, bus company representative, a nondrinking designee other than the driver as provided in Subsection 32B-4-415(4)(c)(ii), or other person in charge or control of a bus or terminal; (d) ingests a controlled substance, unless prescribed by a physician or a medical facility, in or upon any bus, or drinks intoxicating liquor in or upon a bus, except a chartered bus as defined and provided in Sections 32B-1-102 and 41-6a-526; or (e) smokes tobacco or other products in or upon a bus, except a chartered bus. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class C misdemeanor. (4) (a) If an actor violates Subsection (2), the driver of the bus or individual in charge thereof may stop at the place where the offense is committed or at the next regular or convenient stopping place and remove the actor, using only such force as may be necessary to accomplish the removal, and the driver or individual in charge may request the assistance of passengers to assist in removing the actor. (b) The driver or individual in charge may cause the removed actor to be detained and delivered to the proper authorities. Amended by Chapter 362, 2026 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1506 Unlawful refusal to leave a terminal -- Detention of violators -- Private security personnel.

76-9-1506. Unlawful refusal to leave a terminal -- Detention of violators -- Private security personnel. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits unlawful refusal to leave a terminal if: (a) an authorized bus company representative asks the actor to identify the actor's self and state the ground for the actor's business in the terminal; (b) the actor: (i) fails to comply with the request described in Subsection (2)(a); or (ii) fails to state an acceptable business purpose; (c) the authorized bus company representative requests that the actor depart the terminal; (d) the request for departure described in Subsection (2)(c) is: (i) within the bus company's ability to refuse admission to a terminal to individuals who do not have a bona fide business within the terminal as part of the bus company's provision of safety, welfare, and comfort of passengers; and (ii) not inconsistent with or contrary to state or federal laws or regulations, or to an ordinance of the political subdivision in which the terminal is located; and (e) the actor refuses to comply with the request described in Subsection (2)(c) to depart the terminal. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class C misdemeanor. (4) (a) An authorized bus company representative may detain within a terminal or bus an actor who violates the provisions of this section for a reasonable time until law enforcement authorities arrive. (b) The detention described in Subsection (4)(a) does not constitute unlawful imprisonment and neither the bus company nor the representative is civilly or criminally liable upon grounds of unlawful imprisonment or assault, provided that only reasonable and necessary force is exercised against the detained actor. (5) (a) A bus company may employ or contract for private security personnel. (b) The private security personnel may: (i) detain within a terminal or bus an actor who violates this section for a reasonable time until law enforcement authorities arrive; and (ii) use reasonable and necessary force in subduing or detaining the actor. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1507 Unlawful material or device in a bus or a terminal -- Detention of violators -- Private security personnel.

76-9-1507. Unlawful material or device in a bus or a terminal -- Detention of violators -- Private security personnel. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits unlawful material or device in a bus or a terminal if the actor carries a highly flammable or hazardous material or device into a terminal or aboard a bus. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony. (4) (a) A bus company may employ reasonable means, including mechanical, electronic or x-ray devices, to detect the items concealed in baggage or upon the person of a passenger. (b) Upon discovery of a highly flammable or hazardous material or device, the bus company may obtain possession and retain custody of the material or device until the material or device is transferred to a peace officer. (5) (a) An authorized bus company representative may detain within a terminal or bus an actor who violates the provisions of this section for a reasonable time until law enforcement authorities arrive. (b) The detention does not constitute unlawful imprisonment and neither the bus company nor the representative is civilly or criminally liable upon grounds of unlawful imprisonment or assault, provided that only reasonable and necessary force is exercised against the detained actor. (6) (a) A bus company may employ or contract for private security personnel. (b) The private security personnel may: (i) detain within a terminal or bus an actor who violates this section for a reasonable time until law enforcement authorities arrive; and (ii) use reasonable and necessary force in subduing or detaining the actor. Enacted by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1508 Theft of baggage or cargo.

76-9-1508. Theft of baggage or cargo. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits theft of baggage or cargo if the actor removes any baggage, cargo or other item transported upon a bus or stored in a terminal without the consent of: (a) the owner of the property; or (b) the bus company or the bus company's duly authorized representative. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is punishable under Section 76-6-404. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1509 Obstructing the operation of a bus.

76-9-1509. Obstructing the operation of a bus. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits obstructing the operation of a bus if the actor unlawfully obstructs or impedes by force or violence, or any means of intimidation, the regular operation of a bus. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class C misdemeanor. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 76-9-1510 Conspiracy to obstruct the operation of a bus.

76-9-1510. Conspiracy to obstruct the operation of a bus. (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-1501 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits conspiracy to obstruct the operation of a bus if the actor willfully combines or conspires with another individual to violate Section 76-9-1509, Obstructing the operation of a bus. (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class C misdemeanor. Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session

Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter9/76-9-P15.html?v=C76-9-P15_2025050720250507Fetched: 10/26/2026