(a) The offense of bus or rail vehicle hijacking is the seizure or exercise of control by force or violence or threat of force or violence of any bus or rail vehicle within the jurisdiction of this state. Any person committing the offense of bus or rail vehicle hijacking shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for life or imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years.

(b) Any person who boards or attempts to board a bus or rail vehicle with a dangerous or deadly weapon concealed on or about his person or his property which is or would be accessible to such person while on the bus or rail vehicle shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years. The prohibition of this subsection shall not apply to any person who is exempted under Code Section 16-11-130 or commercial security personnel who are in possession of weapons used within the course and scope of their employment; nor shall the prohibition apply to persons who are in the possession of weapons with the consent of the owner of such bus or rail vehicle, his agent, or the lessee or bailee of such bus or rail vehicle; nor shall the prohibition apply to persons transporting weapons contained in baggage which is not accessible to passengers on the bus or rail vehicle if the presence of such weapons has been declared to the transportation company.

(c) Any person who has on or about his or her person or who has placed, attempted to place, or attempted to have placed aboard such bus or rail vehicle any destructive device, as such term is defined by Code Section 16-7-80, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years.

(d) Any person who by force or violence or by threat of force or violence seizes or exercises control of any transportation company, or of the transportation facilities owned or operated by any such company, or of any part thereof, or who by force or violence or by threat of force or violence obstructs, hinders, interferes with, or otherwise disrupts or disturbs the operation of any such company or facility, or of any part thereof, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for life or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years.

(e) The company may employ reasonable means, including mechanical, electronic, or X-ray devices, to detect concealed weapons, explosives, or hazardous material in baggage or upon the person of the passenger. Upon the discovery of any such item or material in the possession of a person, unless the item is a weapon in the possession of a person exempted under subsection (b) of this Code section from the prohibition of that subsection (b), the company shall obtain possession and retain custody of such item or materials until they are transferred to the custody of law enforcement officers.