Assaulting an MTA passenger could bring a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years, under a measure sponsored by a state delegate. Melvin L. Stukes, D-District 44, also seeks a 20-year prison term for first-degree assault of a bus driver or train operator.

“I guess you would say the recent activities in the last several months kind of became the straw that broke the camel?s back,” Stukes said. “It was time to do something now.”