California Penal Code 214 PC defines the crime of train robbery, which is boarding a train – or otherwise interfering with the train – with the intention of robbing someone on the train.
Train robbery is prosecuted as a felony in California. If you are convicted, you face 16 months, two years, or three years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
The full language of the statute reads as follows:
214. Every person who goes upon or boards any railroad train, car or engine, with the intention of robbing any passenger or other person on such train, car or engine, of any personal property thereon in the possession or care or under the control of any such passenger or other person, or who interferes in any manner with any switch, rail, sleeper, viaduct, culvert, embankment, structure or appliance pertaining to or connected with any railroad, or places any dynamite or other explosive substance or material upon or near the track of any railroad, or who sets fire to any railroad bridge or trestle, or who shows, masks, extinguishes or alters any light or other signal, or exhibits or compels any other person, to exhibit any false light or signal, or who stops any such train, car or engine, or slackens the speed thereof, or who compels or attempts to compel any person in charge or control thereof to stop any such train, car or engine, or slacken the speed thereof, with the intention of robbing any passenger or other person on such train, car or engine, of any personal property thereon in the possession or charge or under the control of any such passenger or other person, is guilty of a felony.
Legal Analysis
Under California Penal Code 214 PC, it is a crime for people – with the intention of robbing someone on a train – to either:
- board a train;
- interfere with any switch, rail, sleeper, etc., pertaining to or connected with any railroad;
- place any dynamite or other explosive substance or material upon or near a railroad track;
- set fire to any railroad bridge or trestle;
- show, mask, extinguish or alter any light or other signal;
- exhibit or compel any other person to exhibit any false light or signal;
- stop any train, car or engine – or slow its speed; or
- compel – or attempt to compel – any person in charge or control to stop the train, car or engine – or slow its speed.
It does not matter whether the person on the train the defendant intends to rob is a passenger or railway worker.
Example: Jeremy pulls the emergency brake while riding a train through San Bernardino County. In the ensuing chaos on his train car, Jeremy robs a fellow passenger. If caught, Jeremy would face one count of train robbery.
Train robbery is a felony, which carries a California State Prison sentence of:
- 16 months,
- 2 years, or
- 3 years.
Defendants can also be fined up to $10,000.1
Violating PC 214 is a felony in California.
See our related article on train wrecking (PC 218).
Legal References
- California Penal Code 214 PC – Train robbery. See, for example, People v. Lovren (Cal. Nov. 23, 1897), 119 Cal. 88, 51 P. 22.