OC Transpo bus driver punched during fare dispute, union boss says
Driver off work until he's declared medically fit
Police have made an arrest after an OC Transpo driver was punched while he was behind the wheel on Thursday night.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. on a No. 4 bus near Bronson and Holmwood avenues.
A passenger punched the man driving the bus during a fare dispute, said Craig Watson, president of the bus driver union, ATU Local 279.
"He was punched and it did cause some bleeding on the operator. Another unfortunate circumstance where one of our members was just trying to do his job and somebody took offence to it and proceeded to hit the driver for no real, legitimate reason," Watson said.
"We're the tax collectors, it seems, that people don't like. We collect a tax because we ask people to actually pay for rides, which the city requires us to do."
The driver is shaken up and will be off work until he's declared medically fit, Watson said.
He added there were 72 instances where a bus driver was assaulted in 2013.
Transit driver assault bill vote coming this month
On Friday, Bill S-221 — a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code that would levy stricter penalties against people who assault public transit operators — received a second reading in the House of Commons and will be back for a vote later in the month.
Conservative senator Bob Runciman introduced the bill in the Senate after an OC Transpo driver was badly beaten aboard a bus last year. The person responsible was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
Ottawa transit commission chair Diane Deans said she supports the bill as well because drivers need more protection.
"Imagine the position of a bus driver at the front of the bus," she said.
"They're sitting here, windshield there, window there, seat behind them, fare box here. They're pretty much sitting ducks on the bus if someone assaults them."
Ottawa police couldn't say Friday morning whether the suspect involved in this latest incident will be charged. The investigation is ongoing.