Violence on public transportation has reached alarming levels in Nevada, with bus drivers being assaulted, spit on, and even stabbed while simply doing their jobs. Now, state lawmakers are finally taking action with Assembly Bill 361, which aims to install physical barriers and panic buttons to protect drivers from violent passengers. But will it be enough?

Last year, RTC bus drivers in Las Vegas nearly went on strike over safety concerns, forcing the transit system to increase security personnel. However, as a recent brutal attack in Sparks, Nevada, has shown, the problem is far from solved.

Shocking footage from inside a public bus on February 3, 2025, captured a passenger launching a violent assault on driver Thomas Parsons. The suspect, Ryan Mastelotto, who has a criminal record including battery convictions, was recorded punching Parsons in the face twice, throwing him down the bus steps, and repeatedly stomping on him while the vehicle was in motion. Parsons suffered six broken ribs.

Now, Assemblywoman Linda Hunt (D-North Las Vegas) is leading the charge with AB 361, citing years of unchecked violence against transit employees. “Drivers have been punched, kicked, spit on, and even stabbed,” Hunt stated, emphasizing that her own nephew is a bus driver in Las Vegas and has experienced firsthand the daily dangers of public transit work.

The proposed law would require the RTC to fund the installation of driver barriers and panic buttons on buses, ensuring that drivers have immediate access to emergency assistance when under attack. Taxpayers would not foot the bill, as the cost would fall on RTC itself. Additionally, a separate bill in the Nevada Senate is seeking to mandate an increase in transit security officers, following the lead of Southern Nevada.

Hunt and other supporters of the bill say the recent attack caught on video proves why immediate action is needed. “This is what workers have needed for a long time,” Hunt stated. “And we’re going to make it happen.”

The real question is—will lawmakers follow through, or will drivers continue to be sitting targets for violent criminals?

Source: FOX5 Vegas

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