State Sen. Diane Savino is joining forces with the NYPD to craft legislation pushing back against the scourge of subway perverts — including possible lifetime bans for the worst of the worst.
The Brooklyn Democrat has sent her own proposal, which would strengthen penalties against subway sex criminals, to New York’s Finest for their own input, she said Thursday.
“We moved the bill out of the codes committee last week, and I hope to pass it by the end of session [in June],” said Savino.
“I’m also working with the NYPD on potential amendments to address the problem and also increase penalties and include language on a travel ban. They’re trying to come up with [the] language.”
Though Savino said she would have to review the details of any departmental proposals, including how a lifetime subway ban would be enforced, she said she was willing to consider it.
Top NYPD officials have long pleaded for someone — be it legislators or the MTA — to better aid them in their fight against subway sickos and, in particular, recidivists who take advantage of weak laws to strike time and time again.
That call was renewed Wednesday when The Post reported that Rajesh Gami was released without a cent of bail for allegedly stalking and groping a 16-year-old girl five times in less than two months on the subway.
“That guy went out there and chased this poor girl, and now she is going to be forced out of the subway” to avoid Gami, said Savino.
“These are not your run-of-the-mill perverts. They are predators. It’s a lot of the same guys.”
Savino’s attempts at legislation — which would make subway “grinding” a felony and public lewdness a more severe misdemeanor — have been shot down in the Assembly three times since 2012.
“In the Assembly, they don’t like to make new crimes,” said Savino. “They believe the current penalties are sufficient.”
But Savino is optimistic that, with increased attention on the issue, the fourth time could be the charm, hoping to pass it by the end of the legislative session in June.
“Repeat subway sex offenders are using the trains as their personal hunting grounds,” the NYPD said in a statement. “The NYPD supports tougher penalties, including a ban from the subway, for these recidivist perverts who prey on innocent riders.
“The NYPD thanks lawmakers such as Sen. Savino for their commitment and leadership on this issue.”